. Biological survey of Texas : Life zones, with characteristic species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants. Reptiles, with notes of distribution. Mammals, with notes on distribution, habits and economic importance. Zoology Texas. 158 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 25. find 2)rairie dog or badger holes for safe retreats. They are often most conspicuous and abundant in a half-deserted prairie-dog town ,in a barren valley, where they sit under a bush or Aveed until alarmed, when they rush to the nearest burroAv and disappear, or stop, per- haps, at the edge to see if they are pursued.*^ A^Hiere t
. Biological survey of Texas : Life zones, with characteristic species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants. Reptiles, with notes of distribution. Mammals, with notes on distribution, habits and economic importance. Zoology Texas. 158 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 25. find 2)rairie dog or badger holes for safe retreats. They are often most conspicuous and abundant in a half-deserted prairie-dog town ,in a barren valley, where they sit under a bush or Aveed until alarmed, when they rush to the nearest burroAv and disappear, or stop, per- haps, at the edge to see if they are pursued.*^ A^Hiere there are no prairie-dog holes, badger holes are usually common throughout the range of this rabbit, and a large kangaroo rat burroAv is often made use of in an emergency. Openings in and under rocks also are favorite retreats, and rabbits are usually common along the base of cliffs and in canyons and gulches where, besides the natural cavities among the rocks, they make use of burrows where skunks and badgers. Fig. 20.—Long-eared cottontail {Lcpus a. miitor) at badyer hole under iues(iuile, Pecos Valley. have dug out smaller rodents or made dens under big bowlders. Dense tangles of brush and impenetrable cactus patches also are resorted to for cover, but nowhere within the range of the species is there anything more nearly approaching real woods than scattered mesquite and junipers, with the exception of willows and cottonwoods on some of the river bottoms, which the cottontails seem to avoid. Like jack rabbits, they seem to feel more secure in the open country, where safety depends on keenness of sight and hearing and speed of foot. oAt Lipscomb and Canadian, Howell found them inhabiting old prairie-dog holes to such an extent that they were called by the ranchmen " prairie-dog rabbits " or " dog ;. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance
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