THE HARE. 155 



peculiarly formed for celerity, and it is consequently 

 one of the swiftest quadrupeds in the world. Its hind 

 legs are much longer than the fore ones, and are fur- 

 nished with strong muscles, which give it a singular 

 advantage in running up a hill ; and of this it appears 

 very sensible, as it -is- ^generally observed to fly to- 

 wards rising ground when first started. 



The eyes of the hare are large and prominent, and 

 adapted to receive the rays of light on every side: 

 they are constantly open, even while sleeping, as her 

 eye-lids are too short to cover them ; and they are so 

 situated as to enable her, while sitting in \\erform, to 

 observe every thing around her. 



The colour of this animal is another great means of 

 preservation, as it often so much resembles the ground 

 on which it sits as not to be easily distinguished. In 

 cold countries, near the pole, where the ground is 

 covered the greatest part of the year with snow, the 

 hare becomes white, which consequently renders it 

 less conspicuous in those frigid regions. 



Thus formed for escape, it might be supposed the 

 hare would enjoy a state of tolerable security ; but, 

 although harmless and inoffensive in itself, it has no 

 friend. Dogs of all kinds, as well as foxes, pursue 

 it, seemingly by instinct; wild cats, weasels, &c. catch 

 and destroy it ; birds of prey are still more dangerous 

 enemies : while man, more powerful than all, makes- 

 use of every artifice to obtain a creature, which con- 

 stitutes one of the numerous delicacies of his table. 



According to naturalists, the hare lives six or 



