. Animal life of the Carlsbad cavern. Zoology -- New Mexico; Botany -- New Mexico; Cave animals; Botany -- New Mexico; Zoology -- New Mexico; Carlsbad Caverns (N. M. ). MAMMALS OF THE REGION 61 mouth of the cave, and rabbits undoubtedly formed no small part of the meat supply of the aborigines who formerly inhabited the cave and the adjacent region. Over the valley country they are the most conspicuous animals, half a dozen being often seen from one point as they feed on the tender growth of early spring vege- tation, sit in the shade of desert bushes, or go loping away from the roadside. Two
. Animal life of the Carlsbad cavern. Zoology -- New Mexico; Botany -- New Mexico; Cave animals; Botany -- New Mexico; Zoology -- New Mexico; Carlsbad Caverns (N. M. ). MAMMALS OF THE REGION 61 mouth of the cave, and rabbits undoubtedly formed no small part of the meat supply of the aborigines who formerly inhabited the cave and the adjacent region. Over the valley country they are the most conspicuous animals, half a dozen being often seen from one point as they feed on the tender growth of early spring vege- tation, sit in the shade of desert bushes, or go loping away from the roadside. Two or three dozen were usually seen on a trip from the cave to Carlsbad, a distance of twenty-six miles, but most of these were in two or three low basins where vegetation was getting an early start. Out over the dry flats and ridges only an occasional rabbit was seen, and their total numbers would probably not average more than three to a square mile of the valley country. In this scattering and about normal abundance they are of little economic importance and may prove an asset rather than a lia- bility, for they help to feed the coyotes, eagles, hawks, and owls and thus prevent more serious depredations on live stock and game. The grass and weeds eaten by the rabbits are mainly good stock food, and a con- siderable increase in the number of rabbits would seriously impair the grazing capacity of these arid valleys. One full-grown, old male jack rabbit, shot for ex- amination, weighed 6^ pounds, and measured in total length 600 millimeters; tail vertebrae, 70 mm.; hind foot, 133 mm.; and ears from crown to tip, 160 mm. This was an average and not an extremely large animal. The contents of its stomach, half full of green food, weighed 59 grams, and when air-dried 15 grams, show-. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbaileyvernon18641942, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920
