Nebraska Cottontail 
45 
species are also found on the open plains and prairies, and 
prefer such localities. They are found from Southern Canada 
south to Costa Rica. The genus has had many species and 
subspecies described and assigned to it, Nelson recognizing 
54, of which five have been taken in Colorado. 
Key of the Species. 
A. Ear short, 2.0-2.35 from notch. 
a. Rostrum proportionately heavy, broad, and strongly angled 
on upper half of base ; supraorbitals broad and heavy, 
and usually joined to skull at posterior end. Upper 
parts pale buffy grayish; tops of hind feet whitish; 
ears short, about 2. S. f. similis, p. 45 
b. Rostrum proportionately long and slender, narrow, and 
not strongly angled on upper half of base ; supraorbitals 
always light and slender, tapering to a narrow point 
nearly or slightly free from skull posteriorly, and 
inclosing a long narrow foramen, 
a'. Ears longer, averaging from notch over 2.3; color darker. 
S. n. pinetis, p. 47 
v. Ears shorter, averaging less than 2.2 from notch; color 
lighter. S. n. grangeri, p. 49 
B. Ear long, 2.6 from notch. 
a. Upper parts dark buffy ; back of hind legs dull rusty brown ; 
rump patch fairly well marked. S. a. warreni, p. 52 
b. Upper parts pale buffy; rump patch obsolete; back of hind 
legs pale rusty. S. a. baileyi, p. 49 
Sylvilagus floridanus similis (Lat. similis, like or similar). 
Nebraska Cottontail. 
Sylvilagus floridanus similis Nelson, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., xx., 
p. 82 (1907). 
Type locality. — Valentine, Nebraska. (C. P. Streator, Nov. 10, 
1894.) 
Measurements. — (Type from Nelson, I. c.) Total length, 16.15; 
tail vert., 2.4 ; hind foot, 3.9 ; ear from notch in dried skin, 2.0. 
Description. — Top of head and back pale pinkish buffy, grizzled 
with black on back ; dull gray rump patch ; sides of head and body 
grayer than back and not grizzled; top of tail dusky gray; nape 
rather pale rusty; pectoral band similar but paler; rest of under 
parts white; outside of ears gray, grizzled with dusky, with dusky 
