73 2 RODENTIA. 



The Sand Hare, Lepus jEthiopicus, is found in the mountains and 

 coast-lands of Abyssinia. As the inhabitants, both Christian and Mo- 

 hammedan, observe the precept of the Law of Moses which enumerates 

 the Hare among the unclean beasts not fit for food, the Sand Hare has 

 acquired no fear of man, and, in place of running away, merely walks to 

 some bush. The European sportsman, who gives chase, sees the animal 

 as he approaches again move slowly to some other bush. Even the 

 sound of the gun does not quicken its pace for any length of time. If 

 pursued by dogs, however, it alters its tactics, and displays great fleet- 

 ness, agility, and endurance. 



The Common Hare, Lepus vulgaris (Plate LX), is distinguished from 

 the rabbit by the redder hue of its fur, the great proportionate 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. 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. 



The Hare does not live in burrows, like the rabbit, but only makes a 

 slight depression in the ground, in which she lies so flatly pressed to the 

 earth that she can hardly be distinguished from the soil and dried herb- 

 age among which she has taken up her abode. In countries where the 

 snow lies deep in winter, the Hare lies very comfortably under the 

 white mantle which envelops the earth, in a little cave of her own con- 

 struction. She does not attempt to leave her "form" as the snow falls 

 heavily around her, but only presses it backward and forward by the 

 movement of her body, so as to leave a small space between herself 

 and the snow. By degrees the feathery flakes are formed into a kind of 

 domed chamber, with the exception of a little round hole which serves 

 as a ventilating aperture. This, air-hole is often the means of her 

 destruction as well as of her safety, for the scent which issues from 

 the aperture betrays her presence. 



The Hare is by no means a timid animal. It fights desperately with 

 its own species, and in defence of its young it will attack even man. 

 In England the hare is shot, and hunted either with greyhounds or a 

 pack of hunters. Its long and powerful limbs enable it to make pro- 



