THE HARE. 479 



are flesh-colored, and the eye is brown. The animal is of little direct use to mankind, as its 

 flesh is held in very low estimation, and its hair is so slightly attached to the skin that its 

 coat is useless to the furrier. There was formerly a prevalent idea that rats had an especial 

 antipathy to the Guinea Pig, and would not haunt any place where one of these animals was 

 kept. Rabbit owners were therefore in the habit of placing a Guinea Pig in the same apart- 

 ment with the hutches, in hopes of scaring away the rats, which are the chief enemies of tame 

 rabbits. As, however, in several instances the Guinea Pigs were eaten by the rats instead of 

 driving them from the premises, the custom has gradually fallen into deserved disrepute. 



The group of animals which is known by the name of Leporidse, from the Latin word, 

 lepus, a hare, is easily distinguishable from the other rodents by the peculiar dentition of the 

 upper jaw. Usually there are only two incisor teeth in that jaw ; but in the Leporidse there 

 are four incisors, a pair of smaller teeth being placed immediately behind the usual upper 

 incisors. 



The common Hake is known from the rabbit by the redder hue of its fur, the great pro- 

 portionate length of its black-tipped ears, which are nearly an inch longer than the head ; by 

 its very long hind legs, and its large and prominent eyes. When full-grown it is of consid- 

 erable size, weighing on the average about eight or nine pounds, and sometimes attaining the 

 weight of twelve or even thirteen pounds. In total length it rather exceeds two feet, the tail 

 being about three inches long. The color of the common Hare is grayish-brown on the upper 

 portions of the body, mixed with a dash of yellow ; the abdomen is white, and the neck and 

 breast are yellowish-white. The tail is black on the upper surface and white underneath, so 

 that when the creature runs it exhibits the white tail at every leap. Sometimes the color of 

 the Hare deepens into black, and there are many examples of albino specimens of this animal. 



It is popularly supposed to be a timid animal, and has therefore received the specific title of 

 " timidus ; " but it is really possessed of no small share of courage. According to a well-known 

 writer — not a sportsman — we malign the poor creature by stigmatizing it as cowardly or timid, 

 because it runs away when it is hunted. Half a hundred horsemen, together with a pack of 

 dogs, band together in pursuit of one defenceless Hare, which is likely to run away under 

 such circumstances. There is hardly any animal, from an elephant or lion downwards, that 

 would not run away in like manner : and it is very unfair to brand the poor Hare with an 

 offensive epithet because it does not attempt to fight a field of horsemen and a pack of hounds. 



However disposed the Hare may be to flight, when matched against such overwhelming 

 odds, she is really a courageous animal when more fairly dealt with. 



A countrymen had captured a young leveret in a furrow, and was proceeding to mark it 

 by notching its ears, when he was interrupted in his work by the mother Hare, which flew at 

 him with singular courage, and struck so fiercely with her feet that she tore Ms hands rather 

 severely. Finding that she could not release her child, she stood within a few feet of the 

 captor, and waited patiently until he liberated the little Hare, with which she went off. The 

 Hare is a very pugnacious animal, and is in the habit of waging the most savage fights with 

 those of its own species. 



The very long and powertiil hind legs of the Hare enable it to make prodigious bounds, 

 and to cover a considerable space of ground at every leap. The hinder limbs are, indeed, of 

 such great proportionate length that the animal does not walk, but proceeds by a series of 

 hops or leaps. The Hare is so constituted that it never becomes fat, however rich and fertile 

 may be the pasture in which it feeds, and is therefore enabled to run for a very great distance 

 without being fatigued, as would be the case if its muscles were loaded with fat. It can also 

 leap to a considerable height, and has been known to jump over a perpendicular wall of eight 

 feet in height in order to escape from its pursuers. 



It is a wonderfully cunning animal, and is said by many who have closely studied its 

 habits to surpass the fox in ready ingenuity. Appearing to understand the method by which 

 the hounds are enabled to track its footsteps, it employs the most crafty manoeuvres for the 

 purpose of throwing them off the scent. Sometimes it will run forwards for a considerable 

 distance, and then, after returning for a few hundred yards on the same track, will make a 



