MAMMALS OF MARYLAND 



61 



210) states that P. aZleganiensis was similar in many respects to (and 

 possibly directly ancestral to) P. townsendii. 



Order LAGOMORPHA (rabbits, hares, etc.) 



Family LEPORIDAE (rabbits, hares) 



EASTERN COTTONTAIL 



Sylvilagus floridanus mallurus (Thomas) 



L{ep%is]. nluttalW]. mallurus Thomas, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 7, 

 2:320, October 1898. 

 Type locality. — Raleigh, N.O. 



General distrilmtion. — ^Primarily east of tlie Appalachian Mountains, from 

 Massachusetts, south into central Florida, west to Tennessee and Alabama. 



Distribution in Maryland. — Occurs abundantly in all sections of the 

 State. Cottontails have been introduced into parts of Maryland from 

 areas outside the range of mallurus^ and hence all population in the 

 State may not be ref errable to that race. 



Distinguishing characteristics. — Teeth 2/1, O/O, 3/2, 3/3, = 28; size 

 small; ears large, pelage long and coarse, reddish brown, mixed with 

 black on the dorsum; underparts white, including the underside of 

 the tail; nape and legs cinnamon-rufous. This species differs from the 

 New England cottontail {S. transitionalis) , which has not yet been 

 taken in Maryland but which probably occurs in the mountains of 

 the western part of the State, in several external and cranial characters 

 which are described under that species. 



Measurements. — External measurements of three adults from the 

 three adults from Washington, D.C., are: Basilar length 57.5, 57.0, 



458 ; tail 60, 64, 75 ; hind foot 99, 84., . Cranial measurements of 



three adults from Washington D.C., are: Basilar length 57.5, 57.0, 

 56.5 ; zygomatic breadth 36.9, 36.5, 36.3; interorbital breadth 19.1, 18.5, 

 17.9 ; length of maxillary toothrow 14.1, 14.0, 13.2. 



Habitat and habits. — This rabbit occupies a variety of habitats from 

 the marshes of the Delmarva Peninsula to the fields and meadows of 

 western Maryland. It is seldom encountered in heavy woods. It occurs 

 on Assateague Island, off the Atlantic coast of Maryland, where it 

 is particularly abundant in the wooded thickets and dry sandy areas 

 adjacent to the marshes. These rabbits are found in the tall grass and 

 thickets in villages and towns and even in the large cities such as Balti- 

 more and Washington. The summer food consists of almost any type of 

 green vegetation, but it seems to be especially fond of legumes, dande- 

 lions, plantains, and lettuce. During winter it eats tender parts of 

 many shrubs and trees and will gnaw away the bark of some species of 



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