THE HARE KIND. 89 



op?n. The ears are remarkably large, are moveable to every quarter, 

 and readily receive the fmalleft founds; the hinder feet are longer than 

 the fore, which augments its rapidity, efpecially up hill. 



The hare multiplies exceedingly j the females go with young thirty 

 days J generally bring three or four. They are alio fitted in an extras 

 ordinary manner for multiplying their kind ; the conformation of the 

 womb permits pregnancies of different conceptions, after one delivery 

 retaining another : being divided, fo that one fide may be filled, while 

 the other remains empty. 



The youf5g arc brought forth with their eyes open ; the dam fu ckles 

 them twenty days, after which they leave her, but fcldom fcparate fa^ 

 from their native place, but make each a form at fome diuance, 

 having a prediledion rather for the place than each other's fociety. 

 They rcpofc by day, feed during night, choofe the tender grafs, 

 quenching their third: with dew; eat alfo roots, leaves, fruits, and 

 torn ; prefer fuch plants as have milky juice ; ftrip the bark of trees 

 during winter, except the lime or the alder j are fond of birch, pinks, 

 and parfley. In February, the male purfues the female by the fagacity 

 cf his nofe. They are then feen, by moon-light, playing, fkipping, and 

 purfuing each other; but the leafl alarm diiturbs their revels; they 

 inflantly fiy, each a feparate way. 



In running, they cafily outftrip all other animals at firll: ; could they 

 preferve their fpeed, it would be impoffible to overtake them ; but their 

 firft efforts exhauft' their ftrength, and they double back to the plactr 

 they were (larted from. Their motions are filent, the fole of their foot 

 being furniflicd with hair; and they feem fingular in having hair within 

 their mouths ; live feven or eight years ; come to perfcftion in a year. 

 It is faid the females live longer than the males ; are leldom heard to 

 cry, except when feized or wounded ; their voice is not (harp ; are of a 

 complying nature, and fufceptible of a kind of education ; eafily tamed, 

 but incapable of attachment. If taken never fo young, regain their na- 

 tive freedom the firft opportunity. They have a remarkable good ear, 

 can fit on their hind legs, ufe their fore-paws as hands, and have 

 been taught to beat the drum, to dance to mufic, and perform the ma- 

 nual exercife. 



They make their form in places where the colour of the grafs mod re- 

 fcmbles them ; open to the fouth in winter, to the north in fummer.. 

 The hare, v/hen it hears the hounds at a diftance, flics by "impulfe : 

 Havir.g attained fome hill, and left the dogs far behind, it ftops, rears 



on 



