A Natural History for Young People: Our Animal Friends in Their Native Homes: including mammals, birds and fishesHumphreys, Phebe Westcott
History
A Natural History for Young People: Our Animal Friends in Their Native Homes: including mammals, birds and fishes
Humphreys, Phebe Westcott
Natural history -- Juvenile literature
It would be superfluous to describe the Hare in detail; the animal is
too well known to render it necessary. As, however, it might be
confounded with the Rabbit, which it much resembles, it may be remarked
that the Hare has the ears and the thighs longer, the body more slender,
the head finer, and the coat of a deeper fawn color.
The Hare inhabits hilly or level regions, forest or field; but it is
most frequently found in flat or slightly elevated districts. It does
not burrow, but chooses a form or seat, the situation of which varies
with the season. In summer it is on the hillocks exposed to the north,
in the shade of heaths or vines; in winter, it is found in sheltered
places facing the south. It is often found crouched in a furrow between
two ridges of earth, which have the same color as its coat, so that it
does not attract attention.
During the daytime, the Hare does not generally stir from its retreat;
but as soon as the sun approaches the horizon it goes forth to seek
food—consisting of herbs, roots and leaves. It is very fond of aromatic
plants, such as thyme, sage and parsley. It is also partial to the bark
of some varieties of trees.
No animal has so many enemies as the Hare. Snares and traps are set for
it by poachers. Foxes, Birds of Prey, and sportsmen, aided by Dogs, are
all its persecutors.
To guard itself against so many perils, the poor creature has ears
endowed with extraordinary mobility, and which catch the faintest sounds
from a great distance; four agile and very muscular limbs, which rapidly
traverse space, and transport their owner quickly from its pursuers. In
a word, its defence consists in perceiving danger and fleeing from it.
The Rabbit is closely allied to the Hare in its form and external
aspect, the two differ greatly in habits. The Rabbit lives in societies,
and retires into burrows. It is not found on the open plain, but chooses
for its home places where there are hillocks and woody banks. Like the
Hare, the Rabbit has not a preference for day; but towards evening it
comes forth and gambols about in the glades or nibbles the dewy herbage.
It has also, like the Hare, many enemies, and to escape them it takes
refuge in its subterranean dwelling. As it has not the speed of the
Hare, it would be rapidly overtaken by Dogs if it trusted to its powers
of flight. Its fear or anger is expressed in a singular fashion, namely,
by striking the ground with its hind foot; some say it does this to warn
its fellows of danger.
Besides our well known Wild Rabbits, many fine species have been
imported from different countries and trained as pets.
The Wild Rabbit, also called the Warren Rabbit, is said to be a native
of Africa, from whence it passed into Spain, then into France and Italy,
and successively into all the warm and temperate parts of Europe and
America.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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