NATVRAL HTSTOHY. 
«4 
It is an inhabitant of moft parts of Europe, 
Afia, Egypt, Barbary, Japan, Ceylon, anij 
North- America ; butthofe of Barbary, Spain, 
and Italy, are much fmaller than ours. In 
Wales and France they are generally larger, 
though not fo fine a flavour. 
This folitary animal has, independent of 
man, a hoft of enemies, both in tlife animal 
and feathered tribes. The fox, polecat, ftotc, 
and M^eafel, hunt them with Aich unremit- 
ing perfeverance, that, notwithftanding their 
fwiftnefs, it is with great difficulty they 
efcape their rapacious puiTuit. The wcaW 
will frequently faften upon the neck of a 
hare, while on her form, and hold there till 
it is quite dead, fucking its blood while run- 
ning. The kite, haw'k, owl, and many other 
, birds of prey, are very deftnidtive to young 
leverets. T'his pedecuted animal, however, 
like the rabbit, is fo prolific, as to afford a 
a plentiful fupply to thofe who proterfl it 
againft the unlawful and deftrudtive fnaresoi 
the poacher. 
The female goes thirty days with young, 
and brings forth from two to four at ,a time, 
with their eyes open ; flie breeds fix or 'fevcB 
times a year, and I'uckl^s her young for tv^cn- 
ty days, when her maternal cares ceafe. After 
this time they feed on grafs, roots, leaves, 
corn, plants, and the bai-k of young trees, to 
which they ai’e often very cleflriuffive in nur- 
feries and plantations. They breed whc" 
but a few months old. 
Thou^li 
