120 ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



litter of two, three, or four young occasionally more. There 

 is much variation in this respect. These are born with their 

 eyes open, and a short furry coat, which however lacks the 

 ruddiness of the adult. They are capable of using their limbs, 

 and are so well advanced in development before birth, that scon 

 each makes its own little form beside the mother's, and when a 

 month old they are quite independent. When left alone on the 

 form, whilst the mother goes off to feed, and anything alarms 

 them, they cry " leek, leek." The adults pair promiscuously ; 

 and there appear to be three or four litters a year. 



The Hare appears to moult twice a year in early autumn 

 and early spring ; the former being the principal. Like the 

 Rabbit, it is exclusively vegetarian in its feeding, including 

 bark, grain, and roots as well as herbaceous plants in its bill of 

 fare. It is very destructive to young trees in plantations, and 

 the farmer and market-gardener suffer severely from its depreda- 

 tions among the crops of carrot, lettuce, turnip, etc. In the 

 open country it prefers grasses of the genera Poa, Festuca, and 

 Molinia, clover, sow-thistle, and chicory. When it gets into 

 gardens it shows distinct preference for dahlias, carnations, 

 pinks, nasturtiums, parsley, and thyme. In shrubberies it is 

 very destructive to bark and boughs, especially of coniferous 

 trees. 



The proverbial expression, " Mad as a March Hare," has 

 reference to the insane antics of the Jack Hare during the 

 rutting season. He grunts and kicks, bucks like a broncho, 

 and has stand-up boxing-matches with his rivals. In bucking 

 he leaps over his opponent and kicks him vigorously with the 

 hind feet. Though usually harmless, these encounters have 

 been known to have fatal terminations. Though regarded 

 generally as a mute animal, this is not the fact. The Hare 

 has a low but clear cry, which has been described as " don't," 

 "ont" or "aunt," with varying inflections denoting different 

 moods. When wounded or badly frightened it utters a scream 



