COMMON HARE. 277 



The Common Hare is generally distributed in 

 Britain, but does not occur in Ireland, where, how- 

 ever, another species of nearly the same size is 

 found. It feeds entirely on vegetable substances, 

 such as grass, clover, corn, turnips, and the bark of 

 young trees, sometimes inflicting great injury on 

 the latter, especially in winter. Towards evening 

 it comes abroad in quest of food, and continues to 

 search for it during the night, in conformity with 

 which habit its pupil is large, and of an oblong 

 form. It advances by leaps, and as its hind legs 

 are much longer than the anterior, it runs with more 

 ease up an inclined plane than down a declivity, es- 

 pecially if it be steep. During the day it reposes 

 in a crouching or half sitting posture in its form, 

 which is a selected spot usually resorted to by it, 

 among grass or ferns, or in the midst of whins or 

 other shrubs. Its senses of seeing and hearing are 

 extremely acute ; its eyes being placed directly on 

 the sides of the head, take in a wide range, and its 

 large ears can be readily turned in any direction 

 forwards, outwards, or backwards, so as to catch 

 the smallest sounds indicative of hostility. Being 

 in a manner defenceless, and having no burrow or 

 fastness to which it may retreat, it trusts to its 

 vigilance and great speed ,to enable it to elude its 

 numerous enemies. The excellence of its flesh 

 makes it liable to be destroyed by persons of all 

 degrees, and its frequent occurrence, extreme timi- 

 dity, and great speed, render it a favourite object 

 of the chase among those of equestrian rank who, 



