PASSION FOR MUSIC. 91 



sleep with open eyes. In the summer time, when in her 

 " form," she for the most part lies with her face to the north ; 

 but in the winter, on the contrary, towards the south, that 

 she may enjoy the benefit of the sun's rays; for in the 

 summer time she can as little endure the heat of the sun, as 

 in the winter the cutting north wind. 



As with us, the hare is subject to many diseases. Ek- 

 strom says that, " few are killed in which a quantity of 

 worms are not found in their intestines." Some years, 

 indeed, a sort of pestilence rages amongst these animals, and 

 they die like so many sheep with the rot. 



According to Linnaeus, the hare is a great lover of music, 

 attributable to his long ears ; and says, that if the animal 

 comes over a board, or other sounding substance, he beats 

 it with his fore- feet, lifting them up alternately, and with 

 such rapidity, that the eye can hardly follow the motion. 

 Hence he is said in Sweden : " att sla pa trumma," that 

 is, to beat the drum. The noise made by the animal 

 somewhat resembles that elicited from the instrument in 

 question. 



The fur of the hare is not only valuable in itself, but is 

 used, the great Swedish naturalist tells us, as a flea-trap 

 by the Dalecarlian peasant-girls, who, observing that those 

 vermin are fond of creeping into it for warmth and 

 shelter, wear a Klot, or ball, formed of that material, 

 about their persons. " In places where fleas abound," he 

 adds, " travellers will do well to place a similar Klot in 

 their beds." 



The hare pairs early in the spring, the period being some- 

 what dependent on the latitude and the state of the weather. 

 Although several male hares ramblers, or dancing-masters, 



