Shannon Stirnweis (American, Born 1931) "Cottontail Rabbit" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card of the 22c Cottontail Rabbitail issued on June 13, 1987. Ever-alert, the tawny Cottontail Rabbit goes about undetected until sensing imminent danger. Then, after momentarily freezing in stony silence, it explodes from beneath the brush, darting in frenzied flight. Active from dusk until dawn, these familiar creatures spend most of their time hiding, fleeing or eating, the latter being accomplished by a series of nibbles on nearly anything that grows. Named for its puffy, cotton-like tail, this Rabbit is a favorite of children, and the sight of him in spring brings pleasure to all but the avid gardener, whose labors are at his mercy. Cottontail Rabbits are quite prolific - though few live more than one year. Females raise four to five broods of from four to seven young each in just one year. In shallow holes, called dens, the female Rabbit bears her young, often called kittens. She returns to the den each night to nurse them. Looking more like hairless guinea pigs than Rabbits, the kittens double in size in the first ten days. Image Size: 13.5 x 18.25 in. Overall Size: 13.5 x 18.25 in. Unframed. (B11027)