78 COMMON HARE. 



with, at the extremity, a capacious receptacle for their 

 food, which consists of roots and various kinds of plants. 

 They are seldom known to come abroad until the evening, 

 and they do not usually retire to their hiding-places 

 until nearly sun-rise in the morning. 



The length of their body is about eight inches, and of 

 the tail nearly ten. They have four toes on each of the 

 feet, and a claw in place of the thumb, on each fore foot. 

 They are of a pale yellowish fawn-colour on the upper 

 parts, and white beneath. 



31. HARE TRIBE. 



Several of the species of Hares collect into flocks, con- 

 sisting sometimes of as many as five or six hundred. 

 They are all remarkable for timidity. 



Common Hare. This weak and defenceless animal 

 has not only innumerable enemies amongst almost all 

 the larger tribes of predatory animals, but is an object 

 of eager pursuit even to mankind, and that chiefly for 

 amusement. In the spring of the year, Hares are gene- 

 rally found on fallows, or amongst green corn ; during 

 the autumn they frequent stubbles and turnip-fields ; 

 and, in winter, are found among brambles and thickets. 

 Their favourite food is green corn, parsley, pinks, or 

 birch ; and in young plantations they sometimes prove 

 very injurious, by peeling the bark of trees, and gnaw- 

 ing off the tops of young firs and shrubs. The ears of 

 these animals are admirably contrived, by their size and 

 shape, to convey the most remote sounds. When pur- 

 sued they always throw them back, so as to receive the 

 sounds which come from behind, and thus enable them 

 to judge of the distance and power of their foes. Their 

 fleetness of foot is well known : without reckoning the 



