Part 2

1919. _Ochotona fenisex fumosa_ A. H. Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 32:109, May 20, type from Permilia Lake, W base Mt. Jefferson, Linn County, Oregon.

1924. _Ochotona princeps fumosa_ A. H. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 47:33, September 23.

_Marginal records_ (A. H. Howell, 1924:34).--Oregon: About 900 ft., 15 mi. above Estacada; Paulina Lake; _Three Sisters_; Lost Creek Ranger Station, 10 mi. SE McKenzie Bridge.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS FUSCIPES A. H. Howell.

1919. _Ochotona schisticeps fuscipes_ A. H. Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 32:110, May 20, type from Brian Head, Parowan Mts., Iron County, Utah.

1941. _O[chotona]. p[rinceps]. fuscipes_, Hall and Hayward, The Great Basin Naturalist, 2:108, July 20.

_Marginal records._--Utah: type locality; 9000 ft., Duck Creek (Durrant, MS).

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS GOLDMANI A. H. Howell.

1924. _Ochotona schisticeps goldmani_ A. H. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 47:40, September 23, type from Echo Crater, Snake River Desert, 20 mi. SW Arco, Idaho.

1938. _Ochotona princeps goldmani_, Hall and Bowlus, Univ. California Publ. Zool., 42:337, October 12.

_Marginal records._--Idaho: _S base Grassy Cone_ (Davis, 1939:350); type locality; _Fissure Crater_ (A. H. Howell, 1924:41); _Great Owl Cavern_ (Davis, 1939:350).

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS HOWELLI Borell.

1931. _Ochotona princeps howelli_ Borell, Jour. Mamm., 12:306, August 24, type from 7500 ft., near head of Bear Creek, summit of Smith Mtn., S end Seven Devils Mts., Adams County, Idaho.

_Marginal records._--Idaho: _1/2 mi. E Black Lake_ (Davis, 1939:350); type locality.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS INCANA A. H. Howell.

1919. _Ochotona saxatilis incana_ A. H. Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 32:107, May 20, type from 12,000 ft., Pecos Baldy, Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

1924. _Ochotona princeps incana_ A. H. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 47:25, September 23.

_Marginal records._--Colorado: Medano Creek (A. H. Howell, 1924:25). New Mexico: Wheeler Peak (V. Bailey, 1932:64); type locality.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS JEWETTI A. H. Howell.

1919. _Ochotona schisticeps jewetti_ A. H. Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 32:109, May 20, type from head of Pine Creek, near Cornucopia, S slope Wallowa Mts., Baker County, Oregon.

_Marginal records_ (A. H. Howell, 1924:42).--Oregon: Wallowa Lake; Cornucopia, near head East Pine Creek; _Anthony_; Strawberry Butte; Austin.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS LEMHI A. H. Howell.

1919. _Ochotona uinta lemhi_ A. H. Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 32:106, May 20, type from Lemhi Mountains, 10 mi. W Junction, Lemhi County, Idaho.

1924. _Ochotona princeps lemhi_ A. H. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 47:16, September 23.

_Marginal records._--Idaho: Elk Summit, about 15 mi. SE Warren (A. H. Howell, 1924:18); mts. E of Leadore (_ibid._); mts. E of Birch Creek (_ibid._); Ketchum (_ibid._); _Stanley Lake_ (_ibid._); 5 mi. W Cape Horn (Davis, 1939:348).

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS LEVIS Hollister.

1912. _Ochotona levis_ Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 25:57, April 13, type from Chief Mountain [= Waterton] Lake, Alberta.

1924. _Ochotona princeps levis_, A. H. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 47:16, September 23.

_Marginal records_ (A. H. Howell, 1924:16).--Alberta: type locality. Montana: Little Belt Mts.; Belt Mts.; Chief Mountain Lake.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS LUTESCENS A. H. Howell.

1919. _Ochotona princeps lutescens_ A. H. Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 32:105, May 20, type from approximately 8000 ft., Mount Inglismaldie, near Banff, Alberta.

_Marginal records._--Alberta: Mistaya Creek, Banff-Jasper Highway (Anderson, 1947:96); Canmore (A. H. Howell, 1924:15); Mt. Forget-me-not, 50 to 75 mi. SW Calgary (_ibid._).

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS MOOREI Gardner.

1950. _Ochotona princeps moorei_ Gardner, Jour. Washington Acad. Sci., 40:344, October 23, 1950, type from 10,000 ft., 1 mi. NE Baldy Ranger Station, Manti Nat'l Forest, Sanpete County, Utah. Known from type locality only.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS MUIRI Grinnell and Storer.

1916. _Ochotona schisticeps muiri_ Grinnell and Storer, Univ. California Publ. Zool., 17:6, August 23, type from 9300 ft., Ten Lakes, Yosemite Nat'l Park, California.

1934. _Ochotona princeps muiri_, Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 47:103, June 13.

_Marginal records._--Nevada (Hall, 1946:593): 8500 ft., 3 mi. S Mt. Rose, California (A. H. Howell, 1924:44): Markleeville; mts. W Bishop Creek; Washburn Lake; Latitude 39[deg], summit of Sierra.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS NEVADENSIS A. H. Howell.

1919. _Ochotona uinta nevadensis_ A. H. Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 32:107, May 20, type from 10,500 ft., Ruby Mts., SW Ruby Valley P. O., Elko County, Nevada.

1924. _Ochotona princeps nevadensis_ A. H. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 47:21, September 23.

_Marginal records._--Nevada: 7830 ft., Long Creek (Hall, 1946:590); type locality.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS NIGRESCENS V. Bailey.

1913. _Ochotona nigrescens_ V. Bailey, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 26:133, May 21, type from 10,000 ft., Jemez Mountains, Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

1924. _Ochotona princeps nigrescens_, A. H. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 47:26, September 23.

_Marginal records_ (A. H. Howell, 1924:26).--Colorado: Upper Navajo River; Osier. New Mexico: type locality. Colorado: Navajo Peaks.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS PRINCEPS (Richardson).

1828. _Lepus_ (_Lagomys_) _princeps_ Richardson, Zool. Jour., 3:520, type from headwaters of Athabaska River, near Athabaska Pass, Alberta.

1897. [_Ochotona_] _princeps_, Trouessart, Catalogus Mammalium, p. 648.

_Marginal records._--British Columbia: headwaters South Pine River (Anderson, 1947:95). Alberta: Muskeg Creek "about" 60 mi. N Jasper House (_ibid._). British Columbia: Morrissey (_ibid._). Montana: mts. near St. Marys Lake (A. H. Howell, 1924:14); mts. 15 mi. E Corvallis (_ibid._); Lake Como, Bitterroot Mts. (_ibid._). Idaho: Coeur d' Alene Nat'l Forest (Rust, 1946:322). British Columbia: Mt. Evans, "near" Cranbrook (A. H. Howell, 1924:14); Spillamacheen River (_ibid._)

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS SAXATILIS Bangs.

1899. _Ochotona saxatilis_ Bangs, Proc. New England Zool. Club, 1:41, June 5, type from Montgomery, "near" Mt. Lincoln, Park County, Colorado.

1924. _Ochotona princeps saxatilis_, A. H. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 47:23, September 23.

_Marginal records_ (A. H. Howell, 1924:24, except as otherwise noted).--Wyoming: Medicine Bow Mts.; just above Centennial in mts. (Martin, 1943:394). Colorado: Estes Park; Pikes Peak; Silverton. Utah: La Sal Mts. Colorado: Crystal Lake, 5 mi. W Lake City; Middle Brush Creek; Ten Mile Creek; Berthoud Pass; _Irwin Lakes_ (A. H. Howell, _loc. cit._) not found.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS SCHISTICEPS (Merriam).

1889. _Lagomys schisticeps_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 2:11, October 30, type from Donner, Placer County, California.

1936. _Ochotona princeps schisticeps_, A. H. Miller, Jour. Mamm., 17:174, May 18.

1897. _Ochotona schisticeps_ Merriam, Mazama, 1:223, October.

_Marginal records._--Nevada (Hall, 1946:590): 12 mi. E and 3 mi. N Ft. Bidwell, 5700 ft.; 8400-8600 ft., Duffer Peak, Pine Forest Mts. California (A. H. Howell, 1924:39): Tahoe; _Donner Pass_; 12 mi. NE Prattville; Lassen Peak; Mt. Shasta.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS SEPTENTRIONALIS Cowan and Racey.

1947. _Ochotona princeps septentrionalis_ Cowan and Racey, Canadian Field-Nat., 60:102, March 17, type from 6500 ft., Itcha Mountains, 52[deg] 45' N lat., 125[deg] W long., British Columbia. Known from type locality only.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS SHELTONI Grinnell.

1918. _Ochotona schisticeps sheltoni_ Grinnell, Univ. California Publ. Zool., 17:429, April 25, type from 11,000 ft., "near" Big Prospector Meadow, White Mountains, Mono County, California.

1946. _Ochotona princeps sheltoni_, Hall, Mammals of Nevada, p. 593, July 1.

_Marginal records._--Nevada: 8700 ft., Pinchot Creek (Hall, 1946:593). California: type locality.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS TAYLORI Grinnell.

1912. _Ochotona taylori_ Grinnell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 25:129, July 31, type from 9000 ft., Warren Peak, Warner Mts., Modoc Co., Calif.

_Marginal records_ (V. Bailey, 1936:113, unless otherwise noted).--Oregon: N end of Steens Mts.; Guano Valley; Jack Lake, 20 mi. NE Adel; Adel. California (A. H. Howell, 1924:40): type locality; 5400 ft., "near" Termo, Madeline Plains; nr. head Little Shasta Riv. Oregon: Lower Klamath Lake.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS TUTELATA Hall.

1934. _Ochotona princeps tutelata_ Hall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 47:103, June 13, type from 8150 ft., Greenmonster Canyon, Monitor Mts., Nye County, Nevada.

_Marginal records_ (Hall, 1946:591).--Nevada: 7500 ft., Smiths Creek, Desatoya Mts.; 8600 ft., type locality; 8700-11,000 ft., SW and W slopes Mt. Jefferson, Toquima Range; South Twin River; _Arc Dome_.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS UINTA Hollister.

1912. _Ochotona uinta_ Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 25:58, April 13, type from "near" head E. Fork Bear River, Uinta Mts., Utah.

1924. _Ochotona princeps uinta_, A. H. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 47:19, September 23.

_Marginal records._--Utah: type locality; Elk Park (Hall and Bowlus, 1938:337); _11,000 to 11,500 ft., The Nipple_ (_ibid._); 10,500 ft., SW slope Bald Mtn. (_op. cit._:336); Mt. Timpanogos (_op. cit._:337); 8500 ft., Morehouse Canyon, 5 mi. above Weber River (_op. cit._:337); _Spirit Lake_ (_op. cit._:336) not found.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS UTAHENSIS Hall and Hayward.

1941. _Ochotona princeps utahensis_ Hall and Hayward, Great Basin Nat., 2:107, July 20, type from 2 mi. W Deer Lake, Garfield County, Utah.

_Marginal records._--Utah: 9000 ft., Donkey Lake, Boulder Mtn. (Durrant, MS); type locality.

OCHOTONA PRINCEPS VENTORUM A. H. Howell.

1919. _Ochotona uinta ventorum_ A. H. Howell, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 32:106, May 20, type from Fremont Peak, Wind River Mts., Fremont County, Wyoming.

1924. _Ochotona princeps ventorum_ A. H. Howell, N. Amer. Fauna, 47:18, September 23.

_Marginal records._--Montana: Emigrant Peak (A. H. Howell, 1924:19); Beartooth Mts. (_ibid._). Wyoming: 9600 ft., 19-1/2 mi. E and 4-1/2 mi. S Shell (20882 KU); head of Trappers Creek (A. H. Howell, 1924:19); Medicine Wheel Ranch, 28 mi. E Lovell (32919 KU); Needle Mtn. (A. H. Howell, 1924:19); Lake Fork (_ibid._); 8450 ft., 17-1/2 mi. S and 6-1/2 mi. W Lander (37994 KU); Middle Piney Lake, "near" Stanley (A. H. Howell, 1924:19); Salt River, 16 mi. S Afton (Hall and Bowlus, 1938:337); Teton Pass (A. H. Howell, 1924:19). Idaho: Teton Canyon (Davis, 1939:349).

Family LEPORIDAE--Rabbits and Hares

Hind legs longer than forelegs; ears longer than wide; frontal bone carrying supraorbital process consisting always of posterior arm and sometimes of anterior arm; rostrum wide; nasals not wider anteriorly than posteriorly; maxillae conspicuously fenestrated; jugal projecting less than half way from zygomatic root of squamosal to external auditory meatus (except in _Romerolagus_); pubic symphysis well marked; dental formula, i. 2/1, c. 0/0, p. 3/2, m. 3/3 (but m. 2/3 in _Pentalagus_ of Liu Kiu Islands south of Japan); second upper maxillary tooth like third in form; last lower molar double; cutting edge of first upper incisor straight; mental foramen of mandible situated under first lower cheek-tooth. Females average larger than males in all members of this family. (See Orr, 1940:20.) The reverse is true in most other families of mammals.

Hare is a name applied to any lagomorph whose young are born fully haired, with the eyes open, and able to run about a few minutes after birth. The young are born in the open, not in a nest. All of the species of the genus _Lepus_ are hares. The species of leporids of all genera other than _Lepus_, in North America at least, are rabbits. Their young are born naked, blind, and helpless, in a nest especially built for them and lined with fur. Considering the degree of development of the young at birth, the gestation periods are about what a person would expect: 26 to 30 days in _Sylvilagus_ and 36 to 47 days in _Lepus_ (see Severaid, 1950:356-357). Vernacular names are misleading because the names jack rabbit and snowshoe rabbit are applied to hares; also, Belgian hare is a name applied to a rabbit (genus _Oryctolagus_) that is commonly bred in captivity. There are many domestic strains and varieties of _Oryctolagus_ and the animals are second only to poultry in some areas as a protein food for man. Also, the pelts are sold as a source of felt and many of the skins are dyed and processed for making fur coats and other fur-pieces that appear on the market under names not readily associated with rabbit.

Rabbits and hares are crepuscular and possibly more nocturnal than diurnal. So far as I know they do not store food as do their diurnal relatives, the pikas. Some leporids, however, have an unusual, and possibly unique, method of processing food: Two types of vegetable pellets are expelled from the anal opening of the digestive tract; the dark brownish pellets, from which the nutriments have been extracted, are feces, but the greenish pellets seem to be only slightly predigested foods which are re-eaten. Southern (1942:553), among others, has written about this. This system functionally resembles that in the ruminants where a cud of vegetation is returned to the mouth, from one part of the stomach, to be re-chewed and finally swallowed.

Because the causative organism of a disease that decimates dense populations of small mammals, and some other kinds of vertebrates, was isolated first in leporids, this disease, tularemia, is more associated in the popular mind with rabbits than with other kinds of mammals. Actually, many kinds of mammals are quite as likely to have tularemia as are rabbits. Now that streptomycin is available, cases of tularemia in persons are easily cured.

KEY TO SPECIES OF THE GENERA SYLVILAGUS AND ROMEROLAGUS

1. Antorbital extension of supraorbital process more than 1/2 length of posterior extension; first upper cheek-tooth with only one re-entrant angle on anterior face; re-entrant angle of second upper cheek-tooth not crenate _Sylvilagus idahoensis_, p. 139

1'. Antorbital extension of supraorbital process less than 1/2 of posterior extension or entirely absent; first upper cheek-tooth with more than one (usually 3) re-entrant angles on anterior face; re-entrant angle of second upper cheek-tooth crenate.

2. Anterior extension of supraorbital process absent (or if a point is barely indicated, then 5/6 or all of posterior process fused to braincase).

3. Tympanic bulla smaller than foramen magnum; hind foot more than 74; geographic range wholly in United States.

4. Ear more than 58 from notch in dried skin; basilar length of skull more than 63 _Sylvilagus aquaticus_, p. 166

4'. Ear less than 58 from notch in dried skin; basilar length of skull less than 63.

5. Underside of tail white; posterior extension of supraorbital process tapering to a slender point, this point free of braincase or barely touching it and leaving a slit or long foramen _Sylvilagus transitionalis_, p. 160

5'. Underside of tail brown or gray; posterior extension of supraorbital process always fused to skull, usually for entire length but in occasional specimens there is small foramen at middle of posterior extension of supraorbital process _Sylvilagus palustris_, p. 147

3'. Tympanic bulla as large as foramen magnum; hind foot less than 74; geographic range limited to southern edge of Mexican tableland at high elevations _Romerolagus diazi_, p. 138

2'. Anterior extension of supraorbital process present, and posterior extension free of braincase or leaving a slit between the process and braincase.

6. Tympanic bullae large (see fig. 26). _Sylvilagus audubonii_, p. 162

6'. Tympanic bullae small (see figs. 23, 25 and 27).

7. Restricted to Pacific coastal strip from Columbia River south to tip of Baja California, west of Sierra Nevada-Cascade Mountain Chain; hind foot less than 81. _Sylvilagus bachmani_ and _S. mansuetus_, pp. 143, 147

7'. East of the Pacific coastal strip mentioned in 7; hind foot usually more than 81.

8. If north of United States-Mexican boundary:

9. In Arizona, New Mexico and southern Colorado posterior extension of supraorbital process free of braincase, and supraoccipital shield posteriorly pointed; from central Colorado north into Canada diameter of external auditory meatus more than crown length of last three cheek-teeth _Sylvilagus nuttallii_, p. 161

9'. In Arizona, New Mexico and southeastern Colorado posterior extension of supraorbital process of frontal with its tip against, or fused to, braincase, and supraoccipital shield posteriorly truncate or notched; from central Colorado north into Canada, diameter of external auditory meatus less than crown length of last three cheek-teeth _Sylvilagus floridanus_, p. 154

8'. If south of United States-Mexican boundary:

10. Geographic range restricted to Tres Marias Islands _Sylvilagus graysoni_, p. 169

10'. Geographic range not including Tres Marias Islands.

11. Underside of tail dingy gray or buffy (not white).

12. Tail short (less than 30) and brown like rump; ear from notch (dry) less than 53; interorbital breadth less than 16. _Sylvilagus brasiliensis_, p. 141

12'. Tail of moderate length (more than 30) and dingy gray; ear from notch (dry) more than 53; interorbital breadth more than 16 _Sylvilagus insonus_, p. 168

11'. Underside of tail distinctly white.

13. Total length more than 476; ear from notch (dry) more than 64; interorbital breadth usually more than 19.3; geographic range, southwestern Mexico north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. _Sylvilagus cunicularius_, p. 169

13'. Total length less than 476; ear from notch (dry) less than 64; interorbital breadth usually less than 19.3; geographic range, Canada to Panam['a] _Sylvilagus floridanus_, p. 154

Genus ROMEROLAGUS Merriam--Volcano Rabbit

1896. _Romerolagus_ Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:173, December 29. Type, _Romerolagus nelsoni_ Merriam = _Lepus diazi_ Diaz.

Total length 300 to 311; tail rudimentary; hind foot, 52; ear from notch (dry), 36; upper parts grizzled buffy brown or dull cinnamon brown; underparts dingy gray; anterior projection of supraorbital process absent; jugal projecting posteriorly past squamosal root of zygomatic arch more than half way to external auditory meatus. The two cranial characters mentioned are resemblances to pikas although the skull otherwise resembles that of the true rabbits. The genus contains only the one living species.

Living in well defined runways in the dense sacoton grass, these small rabbits are mainly nocturnal and crepuscular, but sometimes are active by day, especially in cloudy weather in the period of mating.

[Illustration: FIG. 6. Distribution of _Romerolagus diazi_.]

=Romerolagus diazi= (Diaz)

Volcano Rabbit

1893. _Lepus diazi_ Diaz, Catal. Com. Geogr['a]f.-Expl. Repub. Mex. Expos. Internac. Columb. Chicago, pl. 42, March, 1893, type from eastern slope of Mount Ixtaccihuatl, Puebla.

1911. _Romerolagus diazi_ Miller, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 24:228, October 31, 1911.

1896. _Romerolagus nelsoni_ Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 10:173, December 29, 1896, type from west slope Mount Popocatepetl, 11,000 feet, M['e]xico.

_Range._--Canadian Life-zone of the mountains bounding the eastern, southern and western sides of the Valley of Mexico. _Marginal records._--M['e]xico: Monte R['i]o Fr['i]o, 45 km. ESE Mexico City (Davis, 1944:401). Puebla: type locality. M['e]xico: Mt. Popocatepetl (Nelson, 1909:280). Distrito Federal: 31 km. S Mexico City (30815 KU). M['e]xico: Llano Grande, 3 km. W Tlalmanalco (28278 KU).

Genus SYLVILAGUS Gray--Cottontails and Allies

Revised by Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, 29:58-158, August 31, 1909.

1867. _Sylvilagus_ Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 20 (ser. 3):221. Type, _Lepus sylvaticus_ Bachman, _Lepus nuttalli mallurus_ Thomas.

Total length, 291-538; tail, 18-73; hind foot, 71-110; ear from notch (dry) 41-74. Grayish to dark brownish above and lighter below; sutures of interparietal bone distinct throughout life; second to fourth cervical vertebrae broader than long with dorsal surface flattened and without carination.

The delectable flesh of members of this genus, the large numbers that occur on a small area, even in thickly settled rural areas, and the wariness that rabbits soon develop when much hunted, give them top ranking among small game mammals. Tens of thousands of cottontails in Kansas and Missouri (_Sylvilagus floridanus_ and some _S. audubonii_) are captured alive, transported to the eastern United States and released there to bolster the local supply of game. Considering that certain ectoparasites are limited to certain hosts and that some ectoparasites transmit such diseases as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever whereas other ectoparasites do not, this transplantation of rabbits is dangerous. Also, expenditure of $100.00 on improving the habitat for _Sylvilagus_ in a given area in the eastern United States would produce more cottontails than the expenditure of the same sum for live animals, from the Middlewest, that are to be released (see Langenbach and Beule, 1942:14, 15 and 30).

Different species venture different distances from cover to feed. The Audubon cottontail of west-central California ventures a hundred feet and more from cover but the brush rabbit was never seen (Orr, 1940:182) farther than 42 feet from cover. In the thirties, when a gladiolus farmer from the chaparral belt of Santa Clara County, California, visited the University of California seeking advice on how to prevent damage by "cottontails" to his gladioli plantings, we asked the farmer if brush rabbits or cottontails were responsible and suggested to the farmer, who was unable to distinguish between the two, that an animal be killed and submitted for identification. When this was done, the brush rabbit (_Sylvilagus bachmani_) was found to be responsible for the damage. Robert T. Orr's recommendation that the chaparral (brush) be cut back 45 feet from the gladioli plantings was reluctantly followed and proved to be effective. A letter from a Santa Clara County agricultural official a couple of years later expressed thanks for the recommendation made by Orr, and estimated that adoption of his recommendations saved farmers of that one county $40,000 annually. This incident illustrates how detailed knowledge of the life history of a given kind of animal and control of its environment, rather than direct "control" of the animal, is sometimes of value to man.

The genus _Sylvilagus_ is restricted to the New World; the two species _Sylvilagus brasiliensis_ and _S. floridanus_ are the only two which occur in South America and they occur also in North America.

Subgenus BRACHYLAGUS Miller--Pigmy Rabbit

1900. _Brachylagus_ Miller, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 13:157, June 13. Type, _Lepus idahoensis_ Merriam. For characters see subgenus _Sylvilagus_.

Sylvilagus idahoensis (Merriam)

Pigmy Rabbit

1891. _Lepus idahoensis_ Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 5:76, July 30, type from head of Pahsimeroi Valley, near Goldburg, Custer County, Idaho (Davis, Recent Mammals of Idaho, p. 363, April 9, 1939).

1930. _Sylvilagus idahoensis_, Grinnell, Dixon and Linsdale, Univ. California Publ. Zool., 35:553, October 10.

_Marginal records._--In southeastern Washington: Ritzville (Taylor and Shaw, 1929:29); Lind (243344 USBS); Warden (Taylor and Shaw, 1929:29). In remainder of range: Montana: Bannack (Davis, 1937:27). Idaho: Trail Creek near Pocatello (Davis, 1939:366). Utah: 3 mi. NE Clarkson (Durrant, MS); W side Utah Lake (_ibid._); 20 mi. W Parowan (_ibid._); 10 mi. SW Cedar City (_ibid._). Nevada: 8-1/2 mi. NE Sharp (Hall, 1946:618); Fallon (Schantz, 1947:187). California: Bodie (Severaid, 1950:2); 5000 ft., 3 mi. S Ravendale (Orr, 1940:194). Oregon: Silver Lake (Bailey, 1936:110, fig. 17, 206518 USBS); Fremont (_ibid._, 205005 USBS); Redmond (_ibid._, 242302 USBS); 10 mi. N Baker (Dice, 1926:27). Idaho: type locality; Junction (Davis, 1939:366).

Total length, 250-290; tail, 20-30; hind foot, 65-72; ear from notch (dry), 36-48; weight, 6 [MALE] 409(375-435), 9 [FEMALE] 398(246-458) grams. Upper parts pinkish to blackish or dark grayish depending on amount of wear. The pigmy rabbit lives in burrows, mostly dug by itself, preferably where tall sagebrush grows densely. This species feeds extensively on sagebrush, at least in winter. Six young seem to be the rule and they are born any time from late in May until early in August.

[Illustration: FIG. 7. Distribution of _Sylvilagus idahoensis_.]

Subgenus SYLVILAGUS Gray--Cottontails and Allies

1867. _Sylvilagus_ Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 20 (ser. 3):221. Type, _Lepus sylvaticus_ Bachman [= _Lepus nuttalli mallurus_ Thomas].

1867. _Tapeti_ Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 20 (ser. 3):224, September. Type _Lepus brasiliensis_ Linnaeus.

1897. _Microlagus_ Trouessart, Catalogus Mammalium ..., p. 660. Type, _Lepus cinerascens_ J. A. Allen.

1897. _Limnolagus_ Mearns, Science, n. s., 5:393, March 5. Type _Lepus aquaticus_ Bachman.

1950. _Paludilagus_ Hershkovitz, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 100:333, May 26. Type _Lepus palustris_ Bachman.

Characters of subgeneric worth, in contrast to those of the subgenus _Brachylagus_, are: First premolar, in upper jaw and in lower jaw, with more than one fold in the enamel; infolded enamel, which divides each molar tooth into two parts, crenate.

The many nominal species of the subgenus _Sylvilagus_ belong to no more than 12 and perhaps to only ten full species. The now more abundant specimens than were available a half century ago reveal also that there are less trenchant differences between some of the species than were supposed to exist when the five names for genera or subgenera listed immediately above were proposed. Some species can be placed in each of two subgenera with almost equal propriety. If used, four of the five subgeneric names mentioned above would contain only one species each. It seems that no useful purpose is served by attempting to fit the several species of the genus _Sylvilagus_ into more than the two subgenera _Brachylagus_ and _Sylvilagus_; the other names, _Tapeti_ Gray, _Microlagus_ Trouessart, _Limnolagus_ Mearns, and _Paludilagus_ Hershkovitz, are here arranged as synonyms of the subgeneric name _Sylvilagus_ Gray.

Sylvilagus brasiliensis

Forest Rabbit

Total length, 380-420; tail, 20-21; hind foot, 77-80; ear from notch (dry), 39-46. The principal characters of this species are small size, dark color, short tail, and dingy buffy (not white) undersurface of the tail. These rabbits rest in forests or other thick vegetative cover and do not venture far from such cover to feed.

SYLVILAGUS BRASILIENSIS CONSOBRINUS Anthony.