HARE KIND. 163 



satiated, hides the remainder, like the dog or the 

 fox, for a future occasion. It takes a pleasure 

 in gnawing and spoiling every thing that it comes 

 near. When irritated, its hair stands erect along 

 the back, and like the rabbit it strikes the ground 

 violently with its hind-feet. It does not dig a 

 hole in the ground, but burrows in the hollows 

 of trees. Its ordinary food consists of the roots 

 of the country, potatoes and yams, and such 

 fruits as fall from the trees in autumn. It uses 

 its fore-paws, like the squirrel, to carry its food to 

 its mouth ; and as its hind-feet are longer than 

 the fore, it runs very swiftly upon plain ground 

 or up a hill, but upon a descent it is in danger of 

 falling. Its sight is excellent, and its hearing 

 equals that of any other animal ; whenever it is 

 whistled to, it stops to hearken. The flesh of 

 such as are fat and well fed is tolerable food, 

 although it has a peculiar taste, and is a little 

 tough. The French dress it like a sucking pig, 

 as we learn from M. Buffon's account ; but the 

 English dress it with a pudding in its belly, like a 

 hare. It is hunted by dogs ; and whenever it is 

 got into a sugar ground, where the canes cover 

 the place, it is easily overtaken, for it is embar- 

 rassed every step it takes, so that a man may 

 easily come up with it without any other assist- 

 ance. When in the open country, it usually 

 runs with great swiftness before the dogs until 

 it gains its retreat, within which it continues to 

 hide, and nothing but filling the hole with smoke 

 can force it out. For this purpose the hunter 

 burns faggots or straw at the entrance, and con- 



