^S' HARE. Clafs I. 



Its eyes are very large and prominent, adapted to 

 receive the rays of light, on all fides.. 



To afiift it to efcape its purfuers by a fpeedy flight, 

 the hind legs are formed remarkably long, and fur- 

 nifhed with ftrong mufcles : their length give the hare 

 fingular advantages over its enemies in afcending 

 fteep places ; and fo fenfible is the animal of this, as 

 always to make towards the rifing ground when 

 flarted. 



The various ftratagems and doubles it ufes, when 

 ihunted, are fo well known to every fportfman, as not 

 to deferve mention j except to awaken their attention 

 to thofe faculties nature has endowed it with ; which 

 ferve at the fame time toincreafe their amufement, as 

 well as to prevent the animal's deftrudlion. 



It very rarely leaves its form or feat in the day ; 

 but in the night takes a circuit in fearchof food, ai- 

 'ways returning through the fame meufes, or pafTes. 



The color approaches very near to that of the 

 ground ; which fecures it more effectually from the 

 fight of men, and of beafts and birds of prey. Pro- 

 .vidence has been fo careful in refpecc to the preferva- 

 tion of the fpecies of animials, as to caufe in northern 

 countries thefe as well as many others to change color, 

 and become white at the beginning of winter ; to ren- 

 der them lefs confpicuous amidll the fnow. Acci- 

 dental inllances of white hares, are met with in Grcal- 

 Br'Jain. 



Its food is entirely vegetable j and it does great 

 injury to nurferies of young trees, by eating the 

 bark off: it is particularly fond of pinks, parfley, and 

 birch. 



The 



