HARE KIND. 1?3 



that sometimes they cover each other with blood. 

 When they contend in this manner, they gnash 

 their teeth pretty loudly ; and this is often a de- 

 nunciation of mutual resentment. 



These, though so formidable to each other, yet 

 are the most timorous creatures upon earth with 

 respect to the rest of animated nature ; a falling 

 leaf disturbs them, and every animal overcomes 

 them. Hence they are difficultly tamed, and will 

 suffer none to approach them, except the person 

 by whom they are fed. Their manner of eating 

 is something like that of the rabbit ; and, like it, 

 they appear also to chew the cud. Although they 

 seldom drink, they make water every minute. 

 They grunt somewhat like a young pig ; and 

 have a more piercing note to express pain. In a 

 word, they do no injury ; but then, except the 

 pleasure they afford the spectator, they are of very 

 little benefit to mankind. Some, indeed, dress 

 and eat them ; but their flesh is indifferent food, 

 and by no means a reward for the trouble of rear- 

 ing them. This, perhaps, might be improved, by 

 keeping them in a proper warren, and not suffer- 

 ing them to. become domestic: however, the ad- 

 vantages that would result from this would be 

 few, and the trouble great; so that it is likely 

 they will continue an useless inoffensive depen- 

 dant, rather propagated to satisfy caprice than 

 to supply necessity. 



