HARE. 
272 
their food, with which we shall conclude this ac- 
count : — “ I take it to be a general opinion that 
they graze, but it is an erroneous one, at least grass 
is not their staple ; they seem rather to use it me- 
dicinally, soon quitting it for leaves of almost every 
kind. Sow-thistle, dent-de-lion, and lettuce, are their 
favourite vegetables, especially the last. I disco- 
vered, by accident, that fine white sand is in great 
estimation with them ; I suppose, as a digestive. It 
happened that I was cleaning a bird-cage while the 
hares were with me ; I placed a pot filled with such 
sand upon the floor, which, being at once directed 
by a strong instinct, they devoured voraciously : 
since that time I have generally taken care to see 
them well supplied with it. They account green 
corn a delicacy, both blade and stalk, but the ear 
they seldom eat : straw of any kind, especially wheat 
straw, is another of their dainties ; they will feed 
greedily upon oats, but, if furnished with clean 
straw, never want them ; it serves them also for a 
bed, and, if shaken up daily, will be kept sweet 
and dry for a considerable time. They do not, in- 
deed, require aromatic herbs, but will eat a small 
quantity of them with great relish, and are particu- 
larly fond of the plant called musk ; they seem to 
resemble sheep in this, that if their pasture be too 
succulent they are subject to the rot ; to prevent 
which, I always made bread their principal nourish- 
ment, and, filling a pan with it cut into small squares, 
placed it every evening in their chambers, for they 
feed only at evening and in the night. During the 
