380 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



and Vermont southward to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico and 

 westward to the I^lains, where its range extends up the streams to the 

 limit of trees and shrubs. Along our northern border and in the 

 mountains the varying hare {Lepus americanus and subspecies) 

 occurs, and westward to the Pacific several species of jack rabbits 

 and smaller cottontail rabbits are found. In all, about 30 species and 

 twice as man}^ geographic races (subspecies) are known to inhabit 

 North America, while the occurrence of several distinct fossil forms 

 shows that the genus has long been established on the American 

 continent. 



I»R0TECTIVE POWERS OF RABBITS. 



Rabbits are apparent^ defenseless animals, but the senses of hear- 

 ing, sight, and smell are strongly developed in them and they run 

 Y/ith great swiftness. These powers, combined with their protective 

 coloration, largely compensate for lack of means of defense. The 

 ears are long and erectile; the eyes are large and prominent, and, 

 being placed at the sides of the head, enable the animal to see in 

 nearly all directions at the same time. The long hind legs confer 

 great leaping power and the animals can run up or down hill with 

 almost equal facility — a fact which gives them' a decided advantage 

 over some of their enemies. All rabbits are capable of bursts of great 

 speed, and the large species can maintain their pace for a consider- 

 able time. 



BREEDING HABITS. 



Our American rabbits are not so prolific as the common European 

 species. Some of them produce three or four litters of young in a 

 season, while others seem to breed but twice. The period of gesta- 

 tion is about thirty days, and the breeding season is from April to 

 September or even later. The young are produced in natural depres- 

 sions under rocks, stumps, or weeds, or in shallow burrows made by 

 other animals. When these are lacking, the female scratches a shal- 

 low hole under a. bunch of grass or weeds. In the hollow thus chosen 

 or prepared she makes a nest of leaves or grasses and lines it with 

 fur from her own body. Here the young, numbering from 2 to 7 

 (averaging in most of our species about 4), are produced. The 

 young are fully furred and have their eyes open when born. 



The female, while caring for her young, remains in the vicinity 

 of the nest. If enemies approach, she runs away for a short distance ; 

 but when the young are attacked and cry out, she has been known to 

 fight desperately in their defense, and even to vanquish such a for- 

 midable foe as a cat or a snake. When attacking, she jumps and 

 strikes the enemy with her hind feet — members capable of a power- 

 ful blow, as many a boy who has captured a live rabbit can testify. 



