THE COMMON OR BROWN HARE 269 



shot, October 1876, by Robert Henderson on the Longwitton Estate, 

 near Morpeth, Northumberland (Hoskins, Field, 28th October 1876, 

 499) ; one of the same weight, mentioned in the Field of 24th 

 December 1887, 962, was the same individual which is also noticed 

 by the editor, Field, 1891, 215, and probably elsewhere; one, 13 lbs. 

 8 oz. (Kennedy, Field, 28th January 1888, 107); one, 13 lbs. 14 oz., 

 killed by a keeper on the estate of the Misses Farringtons, Worden 

 (J. T. H., Field, 14th December, 1878, 752, from the Preston Guardian 

 of nth December 1878). 



Distinguishing characters : — The pale, dusky-tipped hairs of the 

 underfur form probably the most diagnostic character at all ages as 

 between the Brown Hare and the other three British species of 

 Leporides. Amongst adults, the long ears, reaching well beyond the 

 nose, are unmistakable. 



The skull-characters are given very fully on page 249. 



The " timorous flying Hare " 1 has almost come to be 

 regarded as the embodiment of speed and timidity. 2 Its 

 prominent eyes and elongated, mobile ears are excellent organs 

 for the discovery of danger, while the long, slender hind limbs 

 are admirably adapted for the most rapid flight. And yet 

 it is remarkable that hares should be so timid. They are at 

 worst creatures of immense muscular power ; armed with sharp 

 claws and teeth, they possess considerable facilities of defence, 

 as any one may learn who attempts to hold one. Had they 

 the necessary confidence they would be no mean adversaries 

 for the smaller carnivores, and, when tamed, they easily hold 

 their own against the household cats and dogs. 



Although in many respects resembling rabbits, there are 

 as many differences in the habits of the two animals as in 

 their structure. Whilst rabbits excavate burrows, whither 

 if alarmed they instantly betake themselves, hares make 

 only superficial depressions, called "forms." 3 These they 

 use only as resting-places, trusting to remaining motion- 



1 Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis; compare also such phrases as " More a 

 coward than a hare " (Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, iii., 4) ; " Poor is the triumph 

 o'er the timid hare"; and "The fearful hare," of Izaak Walton's Venator; and, for 

 other instances, see above, p. 254. 



2 In this article use has been made of E. Adrian Woodruffe-Peacock's lecture, 

 "The Cultivation of the Common Hare," being No. 7 of his Rural Studies 

 Series; also of the " Fur and Feather " Series— The Hare; and the " Badminton 

 Library " — Shooting, Field and Covert; Hunting; Coursing and Falconry. 



3 Hence the printer's word, "forme." 



VOL. II. S 2 



