HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 337 



The HARE. 



THIS harmlefs and inoffenfive animal, deflitute of 

 every means of defence, and furrounded on all 

 fides by its enemies, would foon be utterly extirpated, 

 if Nature, ever kind and provident, had not endowed it 

 with faculties, by which it is frequently enabled to evade 

 their purfuit. 



Fearful of every danger, and attentive to every alarm, 

 the Hare is continually upon the watch ; and being pro- 

 vided with very long ears, moveable at pleafure, and 

 eafily directed to every quarter, is warned of the moil 

 diftant approaches of danger. Its eyes are large and pro- 

 minent, adapted to receive the rays of light on every fide, 

 and give notice of more immediate alarms. To thefe 

 may be added its great fwiftnefs, by which it foon leaves 

 moll: of its purfuers far behind. — The hind are much 

 longer than the fore legs, and are furnifhed with ftrong 

 mufcles, which give the Hare a fingular advantage in 

 running up a hill ; and, as if fenfible of its powers in 

 this refpecl:, it is always obferved to fly towards rifing 

 ground when firft darted. 



Y 



