PREFACE, 



The damage done to crops by rabbits has been illustrated very 

 forcibly during recent years by the losses sustained by farmers and 

 orchardists in the arid regions of the West through the depreda- 

 tions of the large native hares, or jack rabbits. The introduction of 

 irrigation and the cultivation of large tracts of land have favored the 

 increase of rabbits in several States by furnishing a new source of 

 food supply. To such an extent have their depredations increased 

 that the extermination of jack rabbits has become a serious question 

 in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, and Utah. 



The objects of this bulletin are : (1) To give a general account of the 

 distribution and habits of the various species found in the United 

 States; (2) to show the methods which have been used to exterminate 

 the animals and to protect crops from their depredations; and (3) to 

 bring together facts and figures concerning the economic uses of rab- 

 bits in general, for the purpose of indicating how our native species 

 may be more generally utilized. 



The disastrous results of the introduction of the common European 

 rabbit into Australia some thirty years ago are known the world over, 

 and nowhere have the methods of destroying rabbits and protecting 

 crops been so carefully investigated as on that continent. While the Old 

 World rabbit belongs to an entirely different species from the jack rab- 

 bits of the West, and differs from them in habits, some of the Austra- 

 lian methods might be used with advantage in our own country. The 

 commercial utilization of rabbits has been attended with considerable 

 success in Australia; large quantities of rabbits are used for food, and 

 an immense number of skins are annually exported to England, some 

 of which find their way to the markets of this country. Therefore, 

 when possible, reference has been made to experiments in Australia 

 which are likely to be of benefit in the United States. 



It is obviously impracticable to mention the many persons who have 

 contributed data, but acknowledgments are due to all who have aided 

 in the preparation of this report. The author, however, is under special 

 obligations to Maj. Chas. Bendire and to Messrs. M. S. Featherstone 

 of Goshen, Cal., Henry Lahann of Traver, Cal., Geo. W. Stewart and 

 B. K. Zumwalt of Visalia, Cal., A. Van Deusen of Lamar, Colo., and 



5 



