1895. Lepus sylvaticus transitionalis Bangs, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 26:405, January 31, type from Liberty Hill, New London County, Connecticut.
1909. Sylvilagus transitionalis, Nelson, N. Amer. Fauna, 29:195, August 31.
Marginal records.—Vermont: west side at Canadian boundary (Osgood, F. L., Jr., 1938:440); Montpelier (ibid.). Maine: Sagadahoc County (Palmer, 1944:194); Androscoggin County (ibid.). New York: Miller Place (Nelson, 1909:199). Virginia: Roanoke County (Llewellyn and Handley, 1946:385). North Carolina: Roan Mtn. (Nelson, 1909:199). Georgia: Brasstown Bald Mtn. (A. H. Howell, 1921:71). Alabama: Erin (ibid.); Ardell (ibid.). Tennessee: Walden Ridge, "near" Soddy (Kellogg, 1939:291). West Virginia: Ronceverte (Kellogg, 1937:473). Pennsylvania: Renovo (Nelson, 1909:199). New York: Lake George (ibid.).
Total length, 388; tail, 39; hind foot, 95; ear from notch (dry), 52. Upper parts almost pinkish buff, varying to almost ochraceous buff; back overlaid by a distinct black wash giving a penciled effect; anterior extension of supraorbital process obsolete or short and closely appressed to orbital rim; tympanic bullae small, smaller than in any subspecies of S. floridanus in the United States. S. transitionalis is a forest-inhabiting species—more so than is S. floridanus.
Sylvilagus nuttallii
Nuttall Cottontail
(See [figure 39])
Total length, 350-390; tail, 44-50; hind foot, 88-100; ear from notch (dry), 55-56; weight in Nevada, ♂ 678, 3 ♀ 928 (868-1032) grams. Hind feet densely covered with long hair; ear short; tympanic bulla of moderate size. In the northern part of its range S. nuttallii occurs principally in the sagebrush areas but it occurs also in the timbered areas of the Transition Life-zone and almost exclusively in timbered areas in the southern part of its range. From S. floridanus, S. nuttallii along the eastern margin of its range differs in more slender rostrum, and larger external auditory meatus. In New Mexico and Arizona, S. nuttallii differs from S. floridanus in the posteriorly pointed and un-notched supraoccipital shield and in the posterior extension of the supraorbital process, the tip of which projects free from the braincase or merely lies against the braincase instead of being firmly welded to the side of the skull. From S. audubonii, S. nuttallii differs in shorter ears, smaller tympanic bullae and smaller hind legs; S. nuttallii usually occurs at higher elevations, or where the two occur at approximately the same elevation S. nuttallii occurs in wooded or brushy areas and S. audubonii lives on the plains or in relatively open country. Eight females contained an average of 6.1 (4-8) embryos.
Sylvilagus nuttallii grangeri (J. A. Allen).