or Zoological Becollections, 403 



It was formerly thought that she changed her sex every 

 month, and was probably forbidden for this reason to be 

 eaten by the ancient Britons. She was also one of the favourite 

 transformations of the witch, from her silence and facility of 

 escape. 



To hunt and course the hare have ever been considered as 

 favourite and joyous sports of the field : and into the social 

 drinking-bowl, after the feast, the foot or the scut of the 

 victim of the chase was cast ; whence he that comes too late 

 to enjoy the viands is said to kiss the hare's foot ; and any 

 indirect or roundabout way of obtaining information is called 

 to beat about the bush. A true sportsman is said never to 

 taste his game: and Horace informs us, that the Roman 

 huntsman disdained to touch the hare when set before him. 



" Leporem venator ut alta 



In nive sectatur, positum sic tangere nolit." 



Martial considers her as a favourite dish among these luxu- 

 rious people. 



" Inter quadrupedes gloria prima lepus.'* 



And Horace tells us that the shoulder was thought the best 

 part : — 



" Foecundi leporis sapiens sectabitur armos." 



And again : — 



" Et leporum avulsos, et multo suavius, armos." 



A German quack doctor, when his patient was surfeited by 

 eating too much hare, upon the principle of antipathy, directed 

 him to take greyhound broth. 



Moses supposed the hare to be a ruminant animal, and 

 forbade her to be eaten : *' the hare, because he cheweth the 

 cud, but divideth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you." 

 (Leviticus, xi. 6.) But what has been supposed to be the 

 rumination of the hare and the rabbit, is not the chewing the 

 cud proper and peculiar to cattle which have four stomachs, 

 from one of which stomachs the cud or ball of hair is 

 projected at pleasure into the mouth, and swallowed back 

 again ; but merely the bringing forward a portion of the food 

 from the cheeks, where such animals as have round mouths, 



istics of "some Scottish Muse," whom he has fully described in his Fmow, 

 says of her — 



" A * hare-brained sentimental trace,' 

 Was strongly marked in her face ; 

 A wildly witty rustic grace 



Shone full upon her ; 

 Her eye, e'en turn'd on empty space, 

 Beam'd keen wi' honour."] 



D D 2 



