THE COMMON HARE. 295 



several times, at small distances, or take the ground 

 like a Rabbet. It is said, however, that a skilful 

 huntsman, who has pursued the same Hare twice, 

 may certainly kill her the third time; for the ani- 

 mals generally use the same doublings, so that they 

 may be easily prevented in any one of them, which 

 defeats all the rest*. What is very remarkable in 

 Hares is, that however frequently they are hunted, 

 they seldom leave the place where they were 

 brought forth, or where they usually sit; and it is 

 no uncommon circumstance to find them, on the 

 day after a long and severe chase, on the spot from 

 which they were before started. 



The ears of the Hare are so admirably contrived 

 by their size and shape, as to convey the most re- 

 mote sounds. They are capable of being turned, 

 with the greatest ease, in all directions; and, when 

 the animal is close pursued, she lays them flat on 

 her back, so as to receive all the sound that comes 

 from behind. The legs, and especially the hinder 

 ones, are remarkably muscular; and the latter are 

 generally so long as to give the animal considerable 

 advantage when she is hunted on rising ground, to 

 which, indeed, she always directs her course when 

 started. In dry or frosty weather she has another 

 advantage, in the feet being protected beneath with 



* Daniel's Rural Sports, i. p. 261. 



X 4 a thick 



