124 HAEE SHOOTING. 



of pressure from the rough surfaces they must pass 

 over by this preference. 



The common hare, according to the Levitical 

 law, was classed among the ruminant animals ; zoo- 

 logists, however, give it a place among the rodentia, 

 or gnawing animals. But even at this present time 

 some naturalists favour the former notion, and in- 

 stance the singular contraction in the stomach of the 

 hare as being akin to the stomachic cavities observable 

 in the true ruminantia. The cleft of the upper lip, 

 also, which renders the member so extremely mobile, 

 and capable of the constant quivering motion observ- 

 able, strengthens the opinion of these writers. The 

 jaws of the hare, nevertheless, remain stationary, 

 while rumination is brought about by a grinding 

 action ; the hare moves its jaws only when browsing, 

 and the excessive mobility of the nose seems rather 

 to affect the marvellous delicacy of its olfactory 

 powers, than the qualities of the ruminant. This 

 creature possesses " six prismatic grinders in the 

 upper, and five in the lower, jaw ; the upper jaw has 

 likewise subsidiary incisors." 



If we examine both the eyes and the ears of the 

 hare, we shall be at once struck by their adaptation, as 

 we have before observed, to the purposes of its exist- 

 ence and of flight from danger. Its eyes are promi- 

 nent, the balls half out of the head, and so placed, that 

 without any alteration of position, the circle of vision 

 is remarkably large; commanding an extensive field 

 of view, before and behind. That she cannot see at 



