Fes., 1912. MamMats oF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN — Cory. 269 
This Rabbit is most commonly found in woods where there are 
numerous thickets and in open country where there is plenty of under- 
brush. It is not a burrowing animal in the strict sense of the word, 
as it does not dig burrows, but it often occupies holes in the ground 
and hollow trees and logs, and when pursued will almost invariably 
seek refuge in such places when available. In this connection Nelson 
says: ‘‘In some cases they enlarge burrows or dig the dirt from between 
rocks or under boards to make an entrance under a house, but appear 
never to make entirely new burrows” (J. ¢., p. 22). 
The Cotton-tail is a gentle, timid animal and when caught it never 
attempts to bite but generally utters a sharp squeal of fear. When 
suspicious or angry it has the habit of stamping the ground with its 
hind feet like our domestic descendants of the European species. The 
life of the Rabbits is by no means easy; practically all carnivorous 
mammals prey upon them, as well as the larger hawks and owls; Minks 
and Weasels hunt them persistently and destroy a great many. They 
are very prolific, however, 4 to 6 young being born at a birth, and there 
are often three litters during a season. The nest is usually a mat of 
grass and leaves lined with soft fur from the pelage of the mother, and 
is placed on the ground concealed under bushes or weeds. According 
to Nelson the young, when born, are naked and their eyes are closed 
(l. c., p. 14). They are suckled and cared for by the mother for three 
or four weeks, after which they are left to care for themselves. When 
feeding and undisturbed these animals move about slowly with short 
hops, advancing about a foot at a time, but when frightened or pursued 
by dogs they can run fast for a short distance. Their long muscular 
hind legs enable them to make leaps of from 8 to 1o feet, as shown by 
tracks in the snow. 
The food of the Cotton-tail consists principally of grass, leaves of 
shrubs and tender buds, as well as the bark of trees. In cultivated dis- 
tricts they frequently do considerable damage to vegetable gardens 
and fruit trees. Lantz says,* ‘‘The common cottontail is fond of fre- 
quenting farms and plantations and makes its ‘forms’ under brush 
heaps or in tufts of grass, bunches of weeds, briars, or bushes. ‘ 
It occupies this form, or nest, by day and at night moves about, feeding 
upon the succulent vegetables in the farmer’s garden, or the clover, 
turnips, or corn in his fields. In the fall it feasts upon apples, cabbages, 
turnips and the like left exposed in garden and orchard; and in winter, 
when all else is frozen hard or covered with snow, it turns its attention to 
twigs and bark of woody plants, often doing much damage to young trees.” 
For the benefit of fruit-growers I quote the formula of a wash given 
by Lantz (1. ¢., p. 340), which has proved efficacious in protecting the 
* Yearbook Dept. Agr., 1907, p. 331. 
