关键词: 草兔, 繁殖, 性成熟

Abstract: This paper analyzed breeding data of the cape hares (Lepus capensis) shot in a
mountain area (35°40′ N，112°20 ′E)in the northern China from January to October of1991 and other areas (35°20 -40°00′ N ，110°10 ′-113°10′ E) during hunting seasons(October to January of the next year)of 1990 to 1993．The females began to breed inJanuary，after about one month the males entered sex activity．and ended in September．The gonads size showed obvious seasonal changes，the peak values occurring inMarch and April．The time at which sexual maturity was attained by young hares wasdefined as about 3— 4 months，but only 51.7 %of hares participated in reproductionduring July to August-Pregnant rate varied seasonally，with the higher values in theearly period of breeding season．The litter size based on visible em bryos ranged form 1 to7，the highest being in May．and annual mean was 3.6．The annual production ofyoung per female was estimated to be 12.9．Compared with other species of the genus Lepus，the hares in the study area had higher reproductive intensity．which was considered to have relation to the rise of population amount in the years during which the study was carried out．

Key words: Cape hare (Lepus capensls), Reproduction, Sexual maturity