33 8 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



Thus formed for efcape, the Hare might be fuppofed 

 to enjoy a ftate of tolerable fecurity; but as every rapa- 

 cious creature is its enemy, it is feldom permitted to live 

 out its natural term. Dogs and Foxes purfue it by in- 

 ftinct ; Wild-Cats, and Weafels of all kinds, catch and 

 devour it ; birds of prey are ftill more dangerous ene- 

 mies ; whilft man, far more powerful than all, makes ufe 

 of every artifice to obtain an animal which conftitutes 

 one of the numerous delicacies of his table.— If we were 

 to enumerate the various ftratagems which ingenuity has 

 fuggefted to circumvent this perfecuted creature, we 

 would willingly omit the notable atchievements and gal- 

 lant exploits of the chafe, which, to a cool and difpaf- 

 fionate obferver, feem to demand a nobler game. 



" Poor is the triumph o'er the timid Hare." 



Another remarkable means of fafety to the Hare is its 

 colour, which being fimilar to the ground where it fits, 

 fecures it from the fight of its enemies ; and, as a further 

 inltance of the care of Providence in the prefervation of 

 its creatures, thefe, as well as fome other animals, in 

 more northern regions, are obferved to change their co- 

 lour, and become perfectly white during winter, which 

 renders them lefs confpicuous in the fnow. Some rare 

 Inftances occur, of white Hares being met with in Great- 

 Britain. 



The Hare is very prolific, and breeds three or four 

 times in the year. The female goes with young thirty 

 days, and generally brings forth three or four at a litter. 

 The rutting feafon begins in February. 



During the day, Hares fleep or repofe in their feats, 

 and feldom remove from them : The night is the feafon 

 when they go about in fearch of food j and they are fure 



