ORDER RODENTIA. 215 



from which it was at first disturbed. The timidity of its 

 disposition is noticed by its specific epithet Timidus 



The Hare is placed, by the Levitical law, among the ru- 

 minating animals. These, however, have all distinct sto- 

 machs, which is not the case with this animal, nor does 

 there seem any reason, grounded on observation, in verifi- 

 cation of the statement. It is true, that the stomach, at 

 first sight, does appear double, owing to a particular fold 

 within it; that the csecum also is so very large, that it may 

 be regarded as a second stomach, and that the habit the 

 animal has of frequently moving the lip, though the jaw 

 remain stationary, gives it the appearance of ruminating. 

 These, however, are but semblances, and not the real 

 character of ruminating, and some other explanation would 

 be more satisfactory. Interpolation in the text has been 

 presumed, but in the absence of a more decided elucida- 

 tion, the adversaries of the Old Testament must make all 

 the advantage they can of the presumed zoological igno- 

 rance of the Jewish lawgiver. 



The voice of the Hare, though never perhaps exerted 

 except when the animal is irritated or wounded, is not a 

 sharp cry, but is rather strong, and like the human voice. 

 Although solitary and silent, they are not altogether so 

 wild as their habits appear to indicate. Their disposition 

 is gentle, and if taken young, they are capable of training 

 and education. M. Desmarest had one a considerable time 

 about his house; it lost all its natural wildness, and its 

 habits had become quite familiar, at least to all it knew, 

 but of strangers it was still fearful. In winter it sat before 

 the fire between two large Angora Cats, and a sporting Dog, 

 with whom it lived on the best of terms ; at table it was ge- 

 nerally close to its master looking for food, and if thwarted in 

 its expectation, would beat with its fore paws in rapid suc- 

 cession on the hand or arm of the person so treating it. ,It 

 acquired an excessive degree of fat, a common consequence 



