THE HARES. 



373 



the interference of Man. Two imported species are 

 at present widely spread in Australia and New Zea- 

 land also. The Hares are found in all climates, in 

 plains and on mountains, in the open country and in 

 clefts of rock, above and below the surface of the 

 earth: in short, everywhere, and where one species 

 ceases another commences; the locality which is 

 not adapted for occupancy by the one possesses 

 a contented inhabitant in another. All prefer to 

 feed on tender, juicy plants, but one might say that 

 they really refuse nothing within their reach. They 

 eat all portions of plants from the roots to the fruit, 

 though they are most partial to the leaves of low 

 growing herbs. Most of them live gregariously to 

 a certain extent and rarely forsake their domicile 

 when they have once selected it, or it has been given 

 them. There they lie hidden during the day in a de- 

 pression or hole, and prowl about at night, looking 



sion consists of a dull growl, or when frightened a 

 loud, pitiful squeal. The "Crying Hares," belonging 

 to this family justify their name. The voice is sel- 

 dom heard though, and is accompanied and sup- 

 plemented by a peculiar flopping of the hind legs, 

 which signifies either fear or anger and is intended 

 to convey a warning. The various species exhibit 

 somewhat wide differences in intellectual capacity. 

 In general the Hares do not justify our precon- 

 ceived ideas of them. They are said to be good- 

 natured, peaceable, inoffensive and cowardly; they 

 prove, however, that they can be the very reverse of 

 all this. Close observers flatly deny the good-na- 

 ture and pronounce the Hares malicious and quar- 

 relsome to the utmost. Their timorous disposition, 

 watchfulness and shyness are universally known, 

 while the cunning which they acquire and which 

 reaches really wonderful development in advanced 



THE VISCACHA. In the pampas of the Argentine Republic the Viscacha, an animal related to the Chinchillas, is one of the most com- 

 mon of Rodents. The picture appropriately depicts this species in the high, coarse grass of its native plains, and shows them in company tor they 

 are gregarious animals. Its actions resemble a Rabbit's but it is not so timid nor so fleet of foot as the latter. (Lagostomus trichodactylus.) 



for food. Strictly speaking, when in thinly popu- 

 lated districts they rest only during the noon hours 

 and run about in broad daylight of evenings and 

 mornings if they deem themselves secure from dan- 

 ger. Their movements are very peculiar. The well 

 known speed of the Hares is exhibited only in full 

 course; when their gait is a slow walk they are very 

 clumsy and awkward, owing to the disproportionate 

 length of their hind legs, which renders an even gait 

 difficult. They are able, however, to turn about 

 sharply when in full flight, and give evidence of an 

 agility for which one would not give them credit. 

 They shun water, though they swim across rivers 

 when hard pressed. 



Physical and Among their perceptive senses that 



Mental Character- of hearing certainly ranks first: this 



istics of Hares, faculty undoubtedly attains among 



Rodents a development found in few other animals. 



Their sense of smell is weaker, though not deficient, 



and their sight is fairly keen. Their vocal expres- 



age, is much less well known. Neither are they 

 such cowards as is usually believed. One certainly 

 wrongs them in emphasizing this quality in the way 

 Linn?eus has done, who denounced the Alpine Hare 

 as a coward beyond redemption. 



Propagation Though the rate of reproduction of 

 of the the Hare is not as excessive as that 



Hares. f some other Rodents, it is still 



great enough, and the old saying of sportsmen that 

 the Hare goes out alone in spring and comes back 

 in autumn in a company sixteen strong, has its full 

 value in localities where life uses our subject kindly 

 and pursuit does not wax hot. Most species have 

 several litters a year, each numbering from three to 

 six, nay, even eleven young; but nearly all are defi- 

 cient in the parental instinct and treat their off- 

 spring in an exceedingly careless way; hence many 

 of their progeny perish. In addition to this, a vast 

 army of enemies lie in wait for the savory game, 

 foes of widely variant species in every continent, 



