British Wild Beasts. 185 



This sleepless vigilance, however, gives the hare an important 

 place in mythology, where it often figures as the sentinel. 



Being thus of ill-omen, the hare's flesh was condemned. 

 Thus Burton advises against it, quoting profusely in sup- 

 port of his advice. "'Tis melancholy meat," says Lady 

 Answerall. 



Yet, in spite of their being nominally in such disfavour, 

 we find the Romans maintaining extensive "leporaria," not 

 for coursing but for the table, the shoulder being considered 

 the tit-bit, while the phrase " to live on hares' flesh " became 

 a synonym for " the lap of luxury " or " the fat of the land." 



Its flesh being thus reputed, the animal itself becomes 

 "melancholy," and "as melancholy as a hare" is a poetical 

 simile. " The sad hare," says DavenanL 



Clare notes its dulness in winter as a striking contrast to 

 its summer gaiety of manners — 



" The woods how gloomy in a winter's mom. 

 The crows and ravens even cease to croak ; 

 The little birds sit chittering on the thorn, 

 The pies scarce chatter when they leave the oak, 

 Startled from slumber by the woodman's stroke. 



The quirking rabbit scarcely leaves her hole, 



But rolls in torpid slumbers all the day ; 



The fox is loth to 'gin a long patrol. 



So scouts the woods content with meaner prey ; 



The hare so frisking, timid once, and gay, 



Now scarce is scared though in the traveller's way, 



Though waffling curs and shepherd dogs pursue." 



Finally, as melancholy conduces to madness, the hares — 

 especially March hares — are popularly considered a trifle 

 insane. 



Yet it is far from being of a triste or solemn kind ; for 

 who has ever watched a hare, when it thought itself in safety, 

 and not been amused by its absurd light-heartedness. In- 

 stead of behaving like the witches' familiar, which folk-lore 



