HARE 169 



mally (N.), mapsie (pet), raaukin, mawken (and many other) ; Old 

 Sarah (Suffolk) ; Puss ; Scavernick (Cornw.), skyper ; Whiddie 

 (Aberd. Banff). 



Supposed from an old word signifying "jumper." The Welsh 

 word is ceinach. Miol raaighe is just the beast of the plain. 



The hare is a native of Britain, and was one of the animals 

 used in divination. We learn from Caesar, de Bell. Gal., that 

 it was one of the animals the ancient Britons avoided eating. 

 Witches are said to assume the form of a hare frequently. Hares 

 are more stupid than rabbits, and more easily killed on railway 

 lines. Hares are said to be fond of music. Chambers in his 

 Popular Rhymes says, " Jock played upon his bulls (bagpipes) sae 

 bonnie that the hares a' danced roon'." In Silva Gadelica the 

 expression "in miol mongruad," translated '^•russet-coated beast," 

 occurs, in miol mongruad da ngoirter in gerrfhiadh, am mial 

 muing-ruadh da'n goirear an gearr-fhiadh, the red-maned beast 

 called the hare (short deer). Fiamain or fiamuin is said to mean 

 fiadh-muin, wild (?). In Lightfoot's Flora Scotica we are told that 

 there were no hares in Arran about 1790, there are almost none 

 there now. Hares are hated by fishermen, and the word must 

 not be used at sea ; this applies chiefly to the North-east of 

 Scotland. A hare crossing one's path when going on a journey 

 is said to be particularly unlucky, indeed so much so that the 

 journey may be given up for that day. A hare starting from the 

 last patch of grain being cut, is said to be lucky. As may be 

 generally known, the hare frisks very greatly, both in the very 

 early morning when it holds apparent assemblies and sits in rings, 

 as also gambolling in the evening before approaching rain. 

 Cowper says of a pet jack-hare. 



His frisking was at evening hours 



For then he lost his fear ; 

 But most before approaching showers 



Or when a storm drew near. 



In spite of this "dancing" disposition, we find Johnson 

 describing the hare as " melancholy," because she is on her forme 

 always solitary ! 



A Celtic riddle runs : — 



Chi mi thugam thar a bheinn 

 Fear beag 's beum as a shroin, 

 Da fhiacaill fhada 'na chir, 

 'S cirb de bhlaigh 'na thoinn. 



I see towards me (coming) over the hill 

 A little one with a cut in his nose, 

 Two very long teeth in his jaw. 

 And a tatter of tow tied in rear. 



