160 
The Animal-Lore of Shakspeare s Time. 
over much sleepe, for fear of dogs and swiftnesse causeth them to see 
the lesse; when they run they shut their eies, and when they sleep 
they open them.” (Page 265.) 
Lyly alludes to a very curious notion: “ Hares we cannot 
be, because they are male one year and the next female ” 
(Mydas) ; and Fletcher, in the Gentle Shepherd, writes, 
“ Hares that yearly sexes change.” 
“ Mad as a March hare ” is an old proverb :— 
“ The blast of the brymston blew away his braine 
Mased as March hare.” 
(Skelton, The Crowne of Lawrell .) 
It was considered unlucky if a hare crossed the path :— 
“ Nor did we meet 
With nimble feet, 
One little fearful lepus, 
That certaine sign, as some divine, 
Of fortune bad to keep us.” 
(Ellison, Trip to Benwell , lx.) 
Shakspeare has many references to this creature’s 
timidity. Sir Toby Belch declares that Viola is “ a very 
dishonest, paltry boy, and more a coward than a hare ” 
(Twelfth Night, iii. 4, 420). 
In his treatise on English dogs, Dr. Caius makes 
mention of a performing hare :— 
“ A hare (being a wilde and skippishe beast) was seene in England 
to the astonishment of the beholders, in the yeare of our Lorde God 
1564, not onely dauncing in measure, but playing with his former feet 
uppon a tabbaret, and observing just number of strokes (as a practi¬ 
tioner in that arte) besides that nipping and pinching a dogge with 
his teeth and clawes, and cruelly thumping him with the force of his 
feete. This is no trumpery tale, (nor trifling toye) as I imagine, and 
therefore not unworthy to be reported, for I recken it a requitall of my 
travaile, not to drowne in the seas of silence any speciall thing, wherein 
the providence and effectual working of nature is to be pondered.” 
(Reprint , 1880, p. 16.) 
The worthy doctor omits to inform us if the aforesaid dog 
