In the spring and summer cottontails forage mostly near woodland edges for grass and herbs, and usually wander no more than 40 feet into the grasslands from the protection of woodland edges and thickets. In autumn and winter cottontails forage in woods and along woodland edges for bark of trees and shrubs and for fallen fruits of trees. Ninety-two per cent of all fecal pellets found in grassland were within 40 feet of cover suitable for cottontails. Movements made by the cottontail while foraging appear aimless; typical behavior consists of progression with a hesitant gait of two or three hops, a stop to eat, another series of hops and another stop. Footprints made by this movement are about 12 inches apart. With occasional spurts of hopping the individual moves perhaps ten to twelve feet where it stops and begins to eat again. The area in which the individual forages is usually elongated with its long axis parallel to the edge except in areas of uniform habitat (such as large patches of coralberry) where the area covered tends to be more nearly circular. Cottontails observed foraging were estimated to utilize 10 to 20 per cent of the home range area in one evening. Paths or runways are not ordinarily utilized by foraging cottontails. In seeking protection from predators or from the weather, cottontails move farther in winter than in summer. The average length of trails of cottontails flushed by me in the study area was 80 feet in summer and 210 feet in winter. When cottontails were released from live-traps they ran an average of 30 feet before stopping to look about. Cottontails always ran toward the densest cover within 50 feet of the point of release. Ten per cent of the cottontails released from live-traps did not stop running until out of sight (always more than 30 feet). Movements made by cottontails escaping from predators differ from movements made while foraging. The gait is a full run, often eight to ten feet between footprints in snow; the trail is either straight or slightly zig-zag. If possible, the individual will take refuge in a hiding place such as a rock outcrop, brush pile, or thicket. Eight cottontails emerged from such hiding places an average of 22 minutes after the disturbance ceased.