66 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 66 



The varying hare seems to be destined to permanent extirpation in Maryland. 

 It is a species with specialized habitat requirements and one of limited distribu- 

 tion. Its environment is being encroached upon by civilization gradually in some 

 and swiftly in other places. . . . The optimum habitat is forest of the high inter- 

 mountain Allegheny Plateau which has at least a moderate understory of small 

 trees and shrubs to provide food and cover. These areas are gradually being 

 destroyed by an increasing deer herd as well as human expansion in Garrett 

 County. 



The last reliable reports of snowshoe rabbits in Maryland were by 

 John Hamlet, formerly with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who 

 reported that in 1945 he observed a female in Garret County but did 

 not record the exact locality, and by John Smith of Mountain Lake 

 who shot one near the Holy Cross Camp, Deep Creek Lake, Garrett 

 County, in March 1957. This latter animal was probably one of 18 that 

 had been shipped into the country from the Adirondacks of New York 

 and released in March 1952. (Maryland Conservationist 34 (2), p. 25, 

 March 1957.) 



The snowshoe rabbit is active in the summer and winter, primarily 

 early in the morning and late in the evening. Although it constructs 

 no nests, it returns to the same spot regularly so that a form is even- 

 tually hollowed out. This form is nearly always concealed under grass, 

 brush, shrubbery, or a fallen log. 



This species breeds promiscuously. Mating begins early in March 

 and may continue well into April. The first litter appears in April 

 after a gestation period of about 36 days ; as many as four litters a year 

 are possible during a breeding season, although there are usually only 

 two. The number of young may range from one to five or more, but 

 most frequently three or four. 



Food of the snowshoe rabbit in summer consists of dandelion, 

 grasses, clover, ferns, and the tender parts of certain shrubs and trees. 

 In winter, when many summer foods are not available, it feeds on 

 bark and shoots of woody plants. 



Specimens examined. — Allegany County : Cumberland, 1. 



Other records and reports. — Garrett County: Cranesville Swamp 

 area (Mansueti, 1953, p. 72) ; Deep Creek Lake (Maryland Conserva- 

 tionist 34(2), p. 25, March 1957) ; Finzel (Mansueti, 1953, p. 72, says 

 that a specimen from this locality is in the collections of the U.S. 

 National Museum and lists it among his specimens examined. There is 

 no record, however, that a specimen from Finzel has ever been in 

 the National Museum collections. Rhodes (1903, pp. 119-120) quotes 

 Merriam as saying that Preble was told of the occurrence of Lepus 

 virginianus at Finzel, Md., only half a mile from the Pennsylvania 

 line. Mansueti may have confused this record with the specimen of 

 Lepus a. virginianus from Cumberland, Md., which is in the National 

 Museum collections, and which is probably the one he examined.) ; 



