. A biological survey of Alabama. I. Physiography and life zones. II. The mammals. Animals Alabama. 74 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 45. tained, but is roughly indicated by records of its occurrence at Gor- don, Ashford, Dothan, Orange Beach, and Flomaton (fig. 10). In the salt marshes of Perdido Bay and Bon Secour Kiver the rabbits are abundant, and there their droppings and well-beaten trails may be seen everywhere. In localities back from the coast they live in the small, wet, timbered swamps which are found at frequent intervals along the streams and around ponds in the timber. They never lea
. A biological survey of Alabama. I. Physiography and life zones. II. The mammals. Animals Alabama. 74 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No. 45. tained, but is roughly indicated by records of its occurrence at Gor- don, Ashford, Dothan, Orange Beach, and Flomaton (fig. 10). In the salt marshes of Perdido Bay and Bon Secour Kiver the rabbits are abundant, and there their droppings and well-beaten trails may be seen everywhere. In localities back from the coast they live in the small, wet, timbered swamps which are found at frequent intervals along the streams and around ponds in the timber. They never leave the cover of the swamps unless driven out by dogs or fire, and on such occasions they quickly seek the nearest thicket or take refuge in a hollow log or tree. Their short legs pre- vent them from at- taining much speed; when pursued they depend for escape on their facility in dou- bling and twisting. When driven from a marsh by the firing of the dry grass, often many are killed by men wait- ing for them with clubs. In the marsh they are frequently Fig. 10.—Distribution of swamp and marsh rabbits in Alabama. 1. Sylvilagus aquaticus aquaticus. 2. Sylvilagus aquaticus littoralis. 3. Sylvilagus palustris palustris. caught by dogs. They take to the water readily and swim easily and swiftly. Bachman states that the marsh rabbit feeds on various grasses and gnaws the twigs of young sassafras and of the pond spice (Benzoin). He has also found it digging for the bulbs of the wild potato (Apios apios) and the atamasco Nelson states that the marsh rabbits examined from Bon Secour are intermediate between palustrus and paludicola, but nearer the 57 Audubon and Bachman, Op. cit, vol. 1, p. 155. 88 Nelson, E. W., North Amer. Fauna No. 29, p. 268, 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 original work.
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