Vol. 5, No. 2 
Page 2 
These data indicate a sharp differential in reproductive effort among the hens of 
these three strains of pheasants. 
Observations in 1960 indicated that wild-transplanted pheasants dominated 
"California" pheasants in all social encounters. We have speculated that the neg¬ 
ligible reproductive effort (as well as greater mortality) among the "California" 
pheasants may have been caused by the subordinate social position these birds held. 
In 1961, it appeared that "native" pheasants dominated the wild-transplanted 
pheasants that were dominant over the "California" birds. Thus, it is possible 
that social dominance is a factor in limiting reproductive success among different 
strains of pheasants released on the same area. During 1962, when the breeding 
population at Neoga consists of "native" pheasants, "California" pheasants, wild- 
trapped pheasants from southwestern Kansas, and Japanese green pheasants, we hope 
to learn more about the relationship of social dominance to reproductive success 
and survival of different strains of pheasants. 
4. Rabbit Management D. A. Casteel, Ann'C. V. Holmes 
The former project leader, Dr. Rexford D. Lord, Jr., resigned during the past 
month. His new address is; Pan American Zoonoses Center, P. 0. Box 99, Azul, 
Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
During February, rabbits were live-trapped, marked, and released in preparation 
for the post-hunting season (spring) census on the study areas in Piatt and Hancock 
counties. 
Hunters on the Allerton Park study areas required only 2.5 hours to bag a 
rabbit during the 1961-62 season. This is the best hunting success on these areas 
during the past four seasons. By way of contrast, hunters on the Hancock County 
study area took 81.3 hours to bag one rabbit and, as a result, only 15 per cent of 
the fall population was harvested. 
Several factors probably contributed to the relatively poor hunting success on 
the Hancock County area. The study area is composed of dissected till plains 
favorable to a high population of groundhogs. No attempt was made to count ground¬ 
hog burrows on the study area, but it was apparent that rabbits made extensive use 
of the burrows, which were inaccessible to hunters. During 40 of the 75 days open 
to rabbit hunting, the temperature was below 10° F. Snow covered the ground 
throughout the hunting season, and during December and January the snow was 12 to 
18 inches deep. These weather conditions curtailed rabbit activity, particularly 
in December. At times no fresh rabbit tracks were seen for as long as 7 days after 
a snowfall or from one snowfall to the next. However, by mid-January, tracks were 
seen just after snowstorms and cold periods indicating that rabbit activity had 
resumed. These observations suggested that by mid-January severe weather conditions 
were not as important in limiting rabbit activity as they were earlier in the 
season. 
