THE HARE. 



it the better for efcaping the impending danger by flight. The lhape of the 

 ears is admirably well contrived, to collect and convey the moil diftant and 

 minute impreflions of founds ; they are very long, and formed like the tubes, 

 or trumpets, made ufe of by deaf perfons; and, being flexible in every direction, 

 cannot fail to catch and convey the fmalleft vibrations of the air. The eyes 

 are remarkably large and prominent, and well adapted to receive the rays of 

 light in all directions, fo that the creature has no occafion to turn its head 

 to either tide, to gain information of the lituation of its purfuers. Like 

 many other animals which feed by night, the eyes are furnifhed with a 

 membrana nictitans, which can be drawn over them at pleafure ; and thus 

 the creature is enabled to bear the light of the day, which it could not 

 otherwife endure. The comparative length of its hind legs is, likewife, of 

 lingular fervice to it in peculiar tituations, particularly in afcending fteep 

 and hilly places ; and fo fenlible is the Hare of this advantage, that, when 

 clofely purfued, it always fhapes its courfe towards riling ground. The Hare 

 is alfo furnifhed with remarkably llrong mufcles, whereby it is enabled to 

 fupport more fatigue than it otherwife could. Its general colour is a tawny,, 

 reddifh brown, which frequently fo nearly refembles the colour of the land 

 on which it lies, that it is eafily overlooked : this is another great fource of 

 its fafety, and fo confcious is the animal of it, that, when clofely prelfed by 

 the Hounds, it will frequently fquat behind a clod, and fufFer the Dogs to run 

 over it, which is no fooner perceived, than it inltantly takes a contrary 

 direction, and by this artifice often effects its efcape. 



In northern countries, where the feverity of the winter covers the ground 

 with perpetual fnow, the colour of the Hare is always changed, during that 

 feafon, from brown to white, which renders it lefs vifible to its numerous 

 enemies, by which it would foon be deflroyed, were it not for this 

 providential circumftance : we fay providential, becaufe the Hares which 

 inhabit warmer climates are not fubject to this change of colour during the 

 winter feafon, which furely is not the effect of mere chance. 



The fhape, fize, and general appearance of the Hare are fo well known, 

 that an accurate defcription of them feems needlefs ; we mall, therefore, 



