546 dr. d. g. Thomson’s notes on a tame hare. 
any silk about her dress. Why I have called the Hare “ he ” 
throughout this short paper I know not, because the sex 
was undoubtedly feminine, but no external sign of rut or 
oestrum was ever observed, although looked for. No 
opportunity occurred of obtaining a male consort, so no 
attempt at breeding in captivity could be made. 
Unfortunately when three and a half years old the Hare died 
of some preventible disease of a dysenteric character, she had 
only been ill one or two days at most ; as before mentioned, 
she never lay in her hutch, but the straw bed was always 
made up as she occasionally went in for shelter, and she was 
found dead in the morning lying quite under the straw 
bedding, showing like savages and most animals, an attempt 
to hide herself before death. 
In spite of the great pleasure of watching the early life 
and inimitable activity and agility, with all the wonderful 
gambols and friskings, of a Hare, I cannot altogether recom- 
mend them as pets, because they are extremely difficult to 
rear and need infinite patience and care in feeding, then after 
the first year of life they become much quieter and less 
active, thus losing much of their main interest ; and, lastly, 
because even if so much as a quarter acre enclosure be at 
their disposal, the confinement is unnatural for such a roaming 
and high speed animal. 
I may suitably conclude these few notes by quoting Cowper’s 
epitaph on one of his hares : 
“ Here lies whom hound did ne’er pursue 
Nor swifter greyhound follow, 
Whose foot ne’er tainted morning dew 
Nor ear heard huntsman’s halloo.” 
