PYGMY RABBIT:-

NORT AMERICA`S SMALLEST RABBIT WEIGHS A POUND(0.5KG) OR LESS AND SCUTTES ABOUT THE HIGH, SAGEBRUSH PLATEAUS WEST OF THE ROCKIES. SOME ZOOLOGISTS QUESTION WHERTHER IT SHOULD BE CONCIDERED A COTTONTAIL AT ALL.

TO THEM, BLOOD AND OTHER TESTS INDICATE THEAT IT SHOULD OCCPPY ITS OWN GENUS--BRACHYLAGUS, "SHORT HARE".

CERTAINLY THIS MITE DIFFERS FROM OTHER COTTON TAIL RABBITS. FOR ONE THING,IT HAS NO COTTONTAIL.ITS SHORT,STUBBY TAIL IS GRAY ALL OVER. ITS EARS ARE SHORTER AND WIDER THEN THOSE OF MOST OTHER COTTON TAILS AND, UNLIKE ANY OTHER NORT AMERICA RABBIT, THIS ONE EXCAVATES ITS OWN TUNNELS AND BURROWS---OR CONVERTS THOSE MADE BY OTHER SMALL, DIGGING ANIMALS

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THIS PYGMY RABBIT BUILDS ITS DEN IN RELATIVALY SOFT SOIL WHERE SAGE AND RABBITBRUSH FROM A DENSE, PROTECTIVE COVER. IT RARELY TRAVELS MORE THEN A FEW FEET FROM HOME AND, IF ALARMED, SCAMPERS TO ONE OF SEVERAL TUNNEL ENTRANCES CONCEALED NEAR THE ROOTS OF BRUSH.

BUT THE PYGMY RABBIT DOES SHARE WITH COTTONTAILS A PREFERENCE FOR NIGHT TIME ACTIVITY. THAT`S WHEN IT EATS ITS FAVORITE FOOD-SGEBRUSH.