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found this absorbing reading. This effect carries over into the distributional 
list itself, for Mr. Todd not only describes the species, its nesting, range, 
habits, etc. in a workmanlike way, but he often narrates his personal 
experiences in collecting various specimens or making observations. The 
classification and nomenclature of the species follows the latest (fifth) A.O.U. 
CHECK-LIST, but Mr. Todd follows the common names used in the fourth 
CHECK-LIST, which may prove confusing to some of the newer ornitholo- 
gists or purists among us. 
BIRDS OF 'THE LABRADOR PENINSULA is hardly the book you 
would present to a casual bird student or that you would buy yourself 
unless you had ample funds for expanding your library of natural history. 
But if your friend plans to go soon into the north country wildnerness — 
or if you have an interest in the wildlife of remote and inaccessible areas 
of this continent — then you will find this a worthwhile purchase, and 
fascinating reading as well. 
— Paul H. Lobik, 22W681 Tamarack Drive, Glen Ellyn, Ill. 
a fet (Gi ical 
THE COTTONTAIL RABBIT IN ILLINOIS, by Rexford D. Lord, Illinois 
Department of Conservation, Tech. Bull. No. 3: 1-94; 51 figs., 41 tables. 
To those of us not devoted to birds, and especially to hunters who pursue 
the cottontail for sport, this book will be of considerable interest. The 
family Leporidae, which includes both the hares and rabbits, is represented 
by two species of cottontail in Illinois. The Mearns Cottontail (Sylvilagus 
floridanus mearnsii) is almost statewide in distribution, while the Oklahoma 
Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus alacer) is restricted to extreme southern 
Illinois. The former race is treated in this monograph. 
The breeding season for cottontails commences in February and con- 
tinues into August, with the last litter occurring about the middle of Sep- 
tember. A north-to-south gradient exists in the average litter size, with an 
average of 5.31 young per litter in Central Illinois. Breeding takes place 
as early as 2 to 3 months in juveniles, and contributes to more than 22.93 
per cent of the annual crop. Juvenile mortality is extremely high; fully 74 
ber cent of juveniles die in or before 4 months. Fall litters seem to have 
a higher survival rate than those born in the first half of summer, probably 
because of the increased vegetative protection. 
Population studies of rabbits were conducted on the sanctuary area, 
4-H area, and Robert Allerton Park, 3 miles west of Monticello in Piatt 
County. This specific area was used in dermining the seasonal changes 
in roadside activity, population dynamics, role of hunting as a mortality 
factor, importance of food in determining winter mortality, home range, 
_ preference, mortality rate, and potential life span of cottontail 
rabbits. 
The development of the eyeball lens technique in determining the 
age of cottontails is possibly the most significant finding resulting from 
this study. Of particular interest to the sylviculturist and layman alike 
1s the use of commercial rabbit food to curb gnawing on trees in winter. 
This is an outstanding work in mammalogy, and should be a valuable 
source of information for conservationists, biologists, and laymen alike. 
Harlan D. Walley, 717 North Elm St., Sandwich, Illinois 
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