Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsii. Mearns cottontail. 2.

From time to time a few traps were set in the old farmhouse and in the barn and other outbuildings of our camp. In these buildings northern white-footed mice, Norway rats, and house mice were taken. Several cottontails were seen in and under the old barn. The Helming boys trapped a short-tailed shrew and also house mice and a white-footed mouse in the basement of their house.

Records of the Number of Embryos

All the females taken were examined for embryos, and the results are here tabulated by species and dates. The term subadult is used to indicate an individual which has reached adult size, but which is still immature as shown by the pelage, unworn condition of the teeth, and weakness of the skull sutures. For each individual the age is first stated, next the number of embryos if any, and last the length of the embryos in millimeters measured as they lie rolled in the fetal membranes. For embryos too small to measure with field equipment the term small is applied.

These records indicate the breeding period of the different species and the number of young.

August 19: subadult, 0 embryos.
July 16: adult, 3 embryos, size small.
July 21: adult, 0; adult, 0.
July 22: adult, 5, 10 5 mm.; subadult, 0.
July 23: subadult, 0.
July 25: juvenile, 0, juvenile, 0; juvenile 0; subadult, 3, small.
July 30: adult, 0; adult, 0; adult, 0; subadult, 0.
August 2: adult, 0; subadult, 2, small; subadult, 0; subadult, 0.
August 5: adult, 5, small; subadult, 0.
August 23: subadult, 0; adult, 5, 10 mm.
August 24: adult, 5, 8 mm.; adult, 0; adult, 0; adult, 3, small.
August 25: adult, 5, 23 mm.; adult, 0; adult, 4, small; adult, 3, small.
August 26: subadult, 4, 8 mm.; adult, 0.
August 29: adult, 4, 17 mm.
August 7: subadult, 0.
August 10: adult, 5, 8 mm.
August 13: adult, 3, 8 mm.; adult, 0.
August 20: adult, 5, small.
August 28: adult, 4, 17 mm.; adult, 4, 13 mm.
August 29: adult, 5, 17 mm.
August 30: adult, 0; adult, 4, 11 mm.
August 11: adult, 2, 10 mm.