THE HARE. 
479 
are flesh-colored, and the eye is brown. The animal is of little direct use to mankind, as its 
flesh is held in very low estimation, and its hair is so slightly attached to the skin that its 
coat is useless to the furrier. There was formerly a prevalent idea that rats had an especial 
antipathy to the Guinea Pig, and would not haunt any place where one of these animals was 
kept. Rabbit owners were therefore in the habit of placing a Guinea Pig in the same apart- 
ment with the hutches, in hopes of scaring away the rats, which are the chief enemies of tame 
rabbits. As, however, in several instances the Guinea Pigs were eaten by the rats instead of 
driving them from the premises, the custom has gradually fallen into deserved disrepute. 
The group of animals which is known by the name of Leporidse, from the Latin word, 
lepus, a hare, is easily distinguishable from the other rodents by the peculiar dentition of the 
upper jaw. Usually there are only two incisor teeth in that jaw ; but in the Leporidae there 
are four incisors, a pair of smaller teeth being placed immediately behind the usual upper 
incisors. 
The common Hake is known from the rabbit by the redder hue of its fur, the great pro- 
portionate length of its black-tipped ears, which are nearly an inch longer than the head ; by 
its very long hind legs, and its large and prominent eyes. When full-grown it is of consid- 
erable size, weighing on the average about eight or nine pounds, and sometimes attaining the 
weight of twelve or even thirteen pounds. In total length it rather exceeds two feet, the tail 
being about three inches long. The color of the common Hare is grayish-brown on the upper 
portions of the body, mixed with a dash of yellow ; the abdomen is white, and the neck and 
breast are yellowish-white. The tail is black on the upper surface and white underneath, so 
that when the creature runs it exhibits the white tail at every leap. Sometimes the color of 
the Hare deepens into black, and there are many examples of albino specimens of this animal. 
It is popularly supposed to be a timid animal, and has therefore received the specific title of 
“ timidus ; ” but it is really possessed of no small share of courage. According to a well-known 
writer— not a sportsman — we malign the poor creature by stigmatizing it as cowardly or timid, 
because it runs away when it is hunted. Half a hundred horsemen, together with a pack of 
dogs, band together in pursuit of one defenceless Hare, which is likely to run away under 
such circumstances. There is hardly any animal, from an elephant or lion downwards, that 
would not run away in like manner ; and it is very unfair to brand the poor Hare with an 
offensive epithet because it does not attempt to fight a field of horsemen and a pack of hounds. 
However disposed the Hare may be to flight, when matched against such overwhelming 
odds, she is really a courageous animal when more fairly dealt with. 
A countrymen had captured a young leveret in a furrow, and was proceeding to mark it 
by notching its ears, when he was interrupted in his work by the mother Hare, which flew at 
him with singular courage, and struck so fiercely with her feet that she tore his hands rather 
severely. Finding that she could not release her child, she stood within a few feet of the 
captor, and waited patiently until he liberated the little Hare, with which she went off. The 
Hare is a very pugnacious animal, and is in the habit of waging the most savage fights with 
those of its own species. 
The very long and powerful hind legs of the Hare enable it to make prodigious bounds, 
and to cover a considerable space of ground at every leap. The hinder limbs are, indeed, of 
such great proportionate length that the animal does not walk, but proceeds by a series of 
hops or leaps. The Hare is so constituted that it never becomes fat, however rich and fertile 
may be the pasture in which it feeds, and is therefore enabled to run for a very great distance 
without being fatigued, as would be the case if its muscles were loaded with fat. It can also 
leap to a considerable height, and has been known to jump over a perpendicular wall of eight 
feet in height in order to escape from its pursuers. 
It is a wonderfully cunning animal, and is said by many who have closely studied its 
habits to surpass the fox in ready ingenuity. Appearing to understand the method by which 
the hounds are enabled to track its footsteps, it employs the most crafty manoeuvres for the 
purpose of throwing them off the scent. Sometimes it will run forwards for a considerable 
distance, and then, after returning for a few hundred yards on the same track, will make a 
