THE HARE KIND. 



349 



very different ideas as to dressing it. With us 

 it is simply served up without much seasoning; 

 but Apicius shows us the manner of dressing 

 a hare in true Roman taste, with p rslcy, rice, 

 vinegar, cummin seed, and coriander." 



THE RABBIT. 



THE hare and the rabbit, though so very 

 nearly resembling each other in form and dis- 

 position, are yet distinct kinds, as they refuse 

 to mix with each other. Mr. Buffbn bred up 

 several of both kinds in the same place; but 

 from being at first indifferent, they soon be- 

 came enemies; and their combats were ge- 

 nerally continued until one of them was dis- 

 abled or destroyed. However, though these 

 experiments were not attended with success, 

 I am assured that nothing is more frequent 

 than an animal bred between these two, but 

 which, like the mule, is marked with sterility. 

 Nay, it has been actually known that the rab- 

 bit couples with animals of a much more dis- 

 tant nature ; and there is at present in the 

 Museum at Brussels, a creature covered with 

 feathers and hair, and said to be bred be- 

 tween a rabbit and a hen. The fecundity of 

 the rabbit is still greater than that of the hare; 

 and if we should calculate the produce from 

 a single pair in one year, the number would 

 be amazing. They breed seven times in a 

 year, and bring eight young ones each time. 

 On a supposition, therefore, that this happens 

 regularly, at the end of four years, a couple 

 of rabbits shall see a progeny of almost a 

 million and a half. From hence we must 

 justly apprehend being overstocked by their 

 increase; but, happily for mankind, their ene- 

 mies are numerous, and their nature inoffen- 

 sive; so that their destruction bears a near 

 proportion to their fertility. 



But although their numbers be diminished 

 by every beast and bird of prey, and still 

 more by man himself, yet there is no danger 

 of their extirpation. The hare is a poor, de- 

 fenceless animal, that has nothing but its 

 swiftness to depend on for safety ; its num- 

 bers are, therefore, every day decreasing; 

 and in countries that are well peopled, the 



* Yid. Apicii, &c. 



species are so much kept under, that laws are 

 made for their preservation. Still, however, 

 it is most likely that they will be at last total- 

 ly destroyed ; and, like the wolf or the elk in 

 some countries, be only kept in remembrance. 

 But it is otherwise with the rabbit, its fecun- 

 dity being greater, and its means of safety 

 more certain. The hare seems to have more 

 various arts and instincts to escape its pur- 

 suers, by doubling, squatting, and winding; 

 the rabbit has but one art of defence alone, 

 but in that one finds safety; by making it- 

 self a hole, where it continues a great part of 

 the day, and breeds up its young; there it 

 continues secure from the fox, the hound, the 

 kite, and every other enemy. 



Nevertheless, though this retreat be safe 

 and convenient, the rabbit does not seem to 

 be naturally fond of keeping there. It loves 

 the sunny field and the open pasture; it seems 

 to be a chilly animal, and dislikes the cold- 

 ness of its underground habitation. It is, 

 therefore, continually out, when it does not 

 fear disturbance ; and the female often brings 

 forth her young at a distance from the war- 

 ren, in a hole, not above a foot deep at the 

 most. There she suckles them for about a 

 month, covering them over with moss and 

 grass, whenever she goes to pasture, and 

 scratching them up at her return. It has been 

 said, indeed, that this shallow hole without 

 the warren, is made lest the male should at- 

 tack and destroy her young; but I have seen 

 the male himself attend the young there, 

 lead them out to feed, and conduct them 

 back upon the return of the dam. This ex- 

 ternal retreat seems a kind of country house, 

 at a distance from the general habitation; it 

 is usually made near some spot of excellent 

 pasture, or in the midst of a field of sprouting 

 corn. To this both male and female often re- 

 tire from the warren; lead their young by 

 night to the food which lies so convenient, 

 and, if not disturbed, continue there till they 

 are grown up. There they find a greater 

 variety of pasture than near the warren, 

 which is generally eaten bare ; and enjoy a 

 warmer sun, by covering themselves up in a 

 shallower hole. Whenever they are disturb- 

 ed, they then forsake their retreat of pleasure 

 for one of safety ; they fly to the warren with 

 their utmost speed ; and if the way be short, 



3H 



