HARE KIND. 121 



period of their pregnancy, and, even while they 

 are bringing forth young, laying the foundation 

 of another brood. 



The young of these animals are brought forth 

 with their eyes open, and the dam suckles them 

 for twenty days, after which they leave her, and 

 seek out for themselves.* From this we observe, 

 that the education these animals receive is but trif- 

 ling, and the family connexion but of a short du- 

 ration. In the rapacious kinds the dam leads her 

 young forth for months together ; teaches them the 

 arts of rapine ; and, although she wants milk to 

 supply them, yet keeps them under her care until 

 they are able to hunt for themselves. But a long 

 connexion of this kind would be very unnecessary 

 as well as dangerous to the timid animals we are 

 describing ; their food is easily procured ; and 

 their associations, instead of protection, would 

 only expose them to their pursuers. They sel- 

 dom, however, separate far from each other, or 

 from the place where they were produced ; but 

 make each a form at some distance, having a pre- 

 dilection rather for the place than each other's 

 society. They feed during the night rather than 

 by day, choosing the most tender blades of grass, 

 and quenching their thirst with the dew. They 

 live also upon roots, leaves, fruits, and corn, and 

 prefer such plants as are furnished with a milky 

 juice. They also strip the bark of trees during 

 the winter, there being scarcely any that they 

 will not feed on, except the lime or the alder. 



* Buflbn, vol. xiii. p. 12. 



