194 RODENTS. 
The hare, like other members of the genus, is an exelusively 
vegetable feeder, its food consisting of grass, corn, bark, ete. In 
cultivated districts hares often inflict much damage on growing wheat, and like- 
wise on garden vegetables ; while the destruction these animals cause among young 
trees by nibbling away the bark is sometimes very great. In fine weather hares 
are usually to be found in the open, while during rain they show a decided prefer- 
ence for cover; but while on some days they select the bare fallows, on others they 
Habits. 
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COMMON HARE (t nat. size). 
repair to fields with long grass or other herbage. On some occasions, either when 
lying in the open or in their forms, they will almost allow themselves to be trodden 
upon before stirring; and it is then that they are sometimes captured by the 
poacher merely walking silently up and throwing himself suddenly upon them. 
On other occasions they are so wild that it is difficult for the sportsman to come 
within range; Prof. T. Bell observing that they are generally most wild in bad 
weather, and more so in the afternoon than in the morning. The hare will take 
readily to the water, not only to escape from pursuit, but likewise to obtain food 
