ORDER X. THE RODEXTIA. 333 



very fond of the bark of younp; trees ; their favorite food, however, is 

 parsley. Their flesh was forbidden to be eaten among the Jews and the 

 ancient Britons, whilst the Romans, on the contrary, held it in great esteem. 

 The flesh is now much prized for its peculiar flavor, thougii it is very black, 

 dry, and devoid of fat. 



It is curious tiiat the voice of the hare is never heard but when it is seized 

 or wounded. At such times it utters a sliarp, loud cry, not very unlike 

 that of a eliild. It has a remarkable instinct in escaping from its enemies ; 

 and many instances of the sur^irising sagacity of these animals are on record, 

 though it appears tliat all of them do not possess equal experience and cun- 

 ning. A perpetual war is carried on against them by eats, wolves, and 

 birds of prey ; and even man makes use of every artifice to entrap these 

 defenceless and timid creatures. They are easily tamed, but never attaiu 

 such a degree of attachment as renders them domestic, always availing 

 themselves of the first opportunity to escape. Among the devices of hares 

 to elude their pursuers, tlic following liave been observed : getting up into 

 a hollow tree, or upon ruined walls ; throwing themselves into a river, and 

 floating down some distance ; or swinuning out into a lake, keeping only 

 their nose above the surface ; returning on their own scent. 



Besides the L. timidus there are two other species pecidiar to Great 

 Britain — the L. Ifiberuicus, the Irish hare, and L. variabilis, the white or 

 changing hare. This latter is reddish-brown in sunnner, and white in 

 winter. In habits, disposition, and form, they do not materially dilFer. 

 The hares are a gentle and timid race, and yet are capable of doing much 

 injury to vegetation. "Towards evening they come abroad in quest of food, 

 and continue to search for it durlnir the niirht, in conformity with which 

 habit their pupil is large, and of an oblong I'orm. They advance by leaps, 

 and as the hind legs are much longer than the anterior, they run with more 

 ease up an inclined plane than down a declivity, especially if it be steep. 

 During the day they repose in a crouching or half sitting posture in their 

 form, which is a selected spot usually resorted to by them among grass or 

 ferns, or in the midst of whins or other shrulis. Their senses of seeing and 

 hearing are extremely acute. Their eyes being placed directly on the sides 

 of the head, take in a wide range, and the large cars can be readily turned 

 in any direction, forwards, outwards, or backwards, so as to catch the small- 

 est sounds indicative of hostility. Being in a manner defenceless, and 

 having no burrow or fastness to which they may retreat, they trust to their 

 vigilance and great speed to enable thcui to elude their numerous enemies. 

 The excellence of their flesh makes them liable to be destroyed by persons 

 of all degrees." 



X. Cuniculus. — The Eabbit, or Burrowing Hare. This species is about 



