The Hare Natural History. 155 



ability of soil and locality. In its choice of habitat timidus 

 is very curious, evincing as much fancy for some particular 

 spot as aversion to others, and this, with its peculiar habits 

 in regard to leaving and returning to its form, renders it 

 very easily poached and very exposed to vermin attacks, 

 although its inherent timidity and powers of scent, sight, and 

 hearing somewhat counterbalance this defect. 



The hare is a far more prolific animal than is generally sup- 

 posed, but as its productiveness is generally compared with 

 the superabundant fecundity of the rabbit, this trait is often 

 overlooked, but a consideration of the time occupied in pro- 

 ducing successive litters soon shows that it is an error to 

 suppose it wanting in prolificacy. It does not pair, and 

 breeding is carried on more or less during the whole year, 

 according to the nature of the locality and the season. Thus 

 moorland hares are less prolific than those inhabiting richly 

 cultivated districts, and from two to three months during the 

 winter season breeding entirely ceases. The period of ges- 

 tation is thirty days, and the young are generally two, often 

 three, and sometimes, but rarely, four at a birth. They are 

 suckled three weeks or so, and by the end of one month 

 are able to provide for themselves, so that it would be 

 possible for one doe to produce from ten to fifteen young 

 in twelve months, and two of the young, say, four more. 

 This supposes two 'at a birth, and the young to be nine 

 months old before breeding. The form where the young 

 are brought forth is, as a rule, of the rudest description, 

 the doe making no provision in the shape of a nest or the 

 like, although sometimes roughly-scraped holes are found 

 in which she has kindled, but, as a general rule, the merest 



