324 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



ning, or more properly instinct, avails itself by taking to rising 

 ground as soon as come upon. The Hare is always in good 

 running condition at that season of the year when it is most 

 likely to be pursued by dogs or other less dangerous foes; this 

 circumstance also we may regard as a peculiar provision of 

 nature, for if the timid little creature was permitted to repose 

 in ease and silence, entirely free from apprehension of danger 

 except at the moment when really attacked, the body would 

 soon become overloaded with fat, which would necessarily pre- 

 vent it from takino; advantas-e of that fleetness which, when in 

 condition, insures its safety. 



The American Hare has considerable speed, and can run for 

 a short time without giving out; the hairy covering of its feet 

 gives it a decided advantage over the Dog in a race, during dry 

 or frosty weather. When hotly pursued. Hares most frequently 

 take to holes, hollowed trunks of trees, or secrete themselves 

 under brush heaps, old logs, or piles of stone, AVhen first 

 roused, the Hare dashes off in good style, and at a speed that 

 soon leaves its pursuers fiar in the wake, but, unfortunately, for 

 want of sagacity, puss exhausts her strength long before the scent 

 grows cold, or the hounds begin to tire, and if it were not for 

 their taking to holes, piles of logs or brush, they would soon 

 fall victims to almost any cur that has the bottom and perse- 

 verance to follow in their wake. 



The construction and position of the eyes in the head are 

 such as to enable the Hare to encompass nearly a w^hole circle 

 in its glance, with scarcely any motion of the head; the eyelids 

 are never completely closed, not even in sleep. The ears also 

 are so contrived as to collect the slightest sound arising in any 

 quarter. With such endowments, it is seldom that a Hare is 

 come upon unawares, although he may spring up from beneath 

 our very feet, or from before the nose of our dogs ; he was well 

 aware, however, of our close proximity, and only trusted, as be 

 had often done before, that, owing to the striking semblance 

 between his color and that of the ground or surrounding herb- 

 age, he would escape unnoticed. 



The Hare may be termed a nocturnal animal, " as it is com- 

 monly at the earliest dawn, while the dew-drops still glitter on 

 the herbage, or when the fresh verdure is concealed beneath a 



