COWPER'S THREE TAME HARES 47 



tamed at all ; and Bess had a courage and confidence 

 that made him tame from the beginning. I always 

 admitted them into the parlour after supper, when, 

 the carpet affording their feet a firm hold, they would 

 frisk, and bound, and play a thousand gambols, in 

 90 which Bess, being remarkably strong and fearless, was 

 always superior to the rest, and proved himself the 

 Vestris of the party. One evening the cat, being in 

 the room, had the hardiness to pat Bess upon the 

 cheek, an indignity which he resented by drumming 

 upon her back with such violence that the cat 

 was happy to escape from under his paws and hide 

 himself. 



I describe these animals as having each a character Character 



of his own. Such they had in fact, and their coun- ****** 



J . position 



100 tenances were so expressive of that character tii&t, O f hares. 



when I looked only on the face of either, I imme- 

 diately knew which it was. It is said that a shepherd, 

 however numerous his flock, soon becomes so familiar 

 with their features that he can by that indication 

 only distinguish each from all the rest, and yet to 

 a common observer the difference is hardly perceptible. 

 I doubt not that the same discrimination in the cast 

 of countenances would be discoverable in hares, and 

 am persuaded that among a thousand of them no two 

 no could be found exactly similar ; a circumstance little 

 suspected by those who have not had opportunity to 

 observe it. These creatures have a singular sagacity 

 in discovering the minutest alteration that is made in 

 the place to which they are accustomed, and instantly 

 apply their nose to the examination of a new object. 

 A small hole being burnt in the carpet, it was mended 

 with a patch, and that patch in a moment underwent 



