THE COMMON HARE. 305 



one occasions the flight of the other, and the Dog 

 pursues because he is trained to it. They eat bread 

 at the same time out of the same hand, and are in 

 all respects sociable and friendly*. 



" I should not do complete justice to my sub- 

 ject, did I not add, that Hares have no ill scent be- 

 longing to them; that they are indefatigably nice 

 in keeping themselves clean, for which purpose 

 Nature has furnished them with a brush under each 

 foot ; and that they are never infested by any ver- 

 min f." 



Hares breed at all times in the year, except 

 during about ten weeks or two months in the 

 winter. They go with- young a mo'nth ; have four 

 litters in the year; and usually produce two, some- 

 times three, and rarely four at a Jitter. The off- 

 spring of the Hare, differing in that respect from 

 those of the Rabbet, come into the world perfectly 



* How admirably does this observation answer a question of 

 Mr. Daniel's, respecting the scent of the Hare; whether it may not 

 be considered as an extraneous "stock of odoriferous particles, given 

 " by Divine Wisdom to the animals,/or the express purpose of being 

 " hunted!" 



f This account is dated May 28th, 1784, and was inserted in the 

 Gentleman's Magazine for the ensuing month. After Mr. Cowper's 

 death, the following memorandum was found among his papers: 

 "Tuesday, March 9, 1786. 



" This day died poor Puss, aged eleven years eleven months. 

 He died between twelve and one at noon, of mere old age, and 

 apparently without pain !" 



Y formed 



