HARE SHOOTING. 123 



which is its real mode of progression, and by which 

 it claims affinity with the marsupial tribes. " It 

 is this curtailment of the fore-legs, in comparison 

 with the hinder, that directs the hare instinctively 

 to seek a rising ground, when flying from its pur- 

 suers." The under-surfaces of its feet are, further- 

 more, provided amply with protecting hair ; it has 

 five toes to its fore-feet, and only four behind. The 

 mean length of the hare, when full grown, is about 

 two feet ; its weight is various : five, six, seven, 

 eight, nine, some even have been known to weigh 

 twelve, pounds. The colour of the fur of the hare 

 varies with the climate, and with the season. Even 

 in England, black and milk-white hares have been 

 met with ; pied ones have been talked about ; and 

 every gradation of grey is incident to the animal. 

 The ordinary tint is, however, an iron-grey ; the 

 chin white ; the throat of a rusty yellow hue ; the 

 belly white ; the breast reddish ; its facial extremity 

 black. Thus, in harmony with the tints around her, 

 is she clothed, in the coldest regions, ever with the 

 lightest hues. Elaine forcibly remarks, that the 

 want of the elastic padding, which bounds the soles 

 of the feet of some animals, as dogs, for instance, is 

 unfavourable to the progress of hares on fallows, 

 and also on all wet and deep soils, which, it is well 

 known, they constantly avoid when they can. When 

 left to choose their own track, they always take a dry 

 one for treading on ; and it is plain, that their woolly 

 sacks admirably adapt their feet to resist the ill effects 



