MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating 
T. G. Scott, Editor 
Urbana, Illinois 
June I960 
Vol. 3, No. 6 
W-30-R-13 
R. F. Labisky 
On June 16, Robert I. Smith joined the staff to assume responsibilities 
as project leader of Project 30-R. Smith received his Bachelor of Science degree 
in Forest Management from Auburn University in 1953 and his Master of Science 
degree in Wildlife Management from Utah State University in 1955. During the past 
5 years. Bob has been engaged in a detailed study of the ecology of the pintail 
duck in the Central and Pacific waterfowl flyways. This research will provide 
the thesis material for his doctorate degree which he will receive from Utah State 
University in the near future. 
T ir 
U M Cd ‘4 , 
V. 3 
. & 
W-42-R-9 Rex Lord 
Just before the opening of the 1959-60 cottontail season, this project 
placed a notice in newspapers of the state requesting one eye from every rabbit 
killed by hunters. At the end of the season, the hunters turned the eyes (preserved 
in jars in rubbing alcohol) over to their local conservation officer who in turn 
gave them to his supervisor who brought them to Springfield. 
Cooperation on the part of the conservation officers was excellent, but 
poor notification of the public resulted in a low return. A total of 910 eyes 
were received from 26 counties. 
Because of the small sample, the data were divided into three groups, 
one from each of three divisions of the state areas on a latitudinal basis, instead 
of into its natural physiographic regions. Using a breakdown of the state into 
northern, central, and southern zones and analyzing the data for the average age 
of the rabbits shot by the hunters, it was found that rabbits living in the 
central zone had the shortest average age (7.5 months). Those living in the 
northern zone had an average age of 9.0 months, and those living in the southern 
zone had the longest average age (10.0 months). 
W-55-R-4 F. Bellrose 
The project was inactive during June. 
J UL 12 I960 
NATURAC 
HISTORY SURVEY 
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