Part 7

There are two varieties of this dog, the one has got very short legs, a long back, and is commonly of a black or yellowish colour mingled with white; the other is of a more sprightly appearance, with a much shorter body, and the colour of this species is a reddish-brown or black.

When gentlemen go out a hunting, they generally take one of these dogs to accompany their hounds, for they are very expert in forcing foxes and other game from their coverts; and their scent being so very quick, they often cause a great deal of amusement.

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THE HARE.

This animal not possessing any means of self defence is furnished by Providence with a high degree of fear. It is attentive to every alarm, and is furnished with very long ears, which are tube-like, and catch the most remote sounds. The eyes are so prominent, as to enable the animal to see both before and behind. The Hare feeds in the evening, and sleeps during the day, and, as he mostly lies on the ground, he has the feet protected, both above and below, with a thick covering of hair. In a moonlight evening many of these creatures may sometimes be seen starting together, leaping about and pursuing each other; but the least noise alarms them, and they then scamper off each in a different direction. Their pace is a kind of gallop, or quick succession of leaps; and they are very swift, particularly in ascending hills. In winter they generally choose a form exposed to the south, and in summer they change this for one looking to the north: in both cases, they have the instinct of commonly fixing on a place where the objects around them are nearly of the colour of their bodies.

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THE RABBIT.

THE RABBIT. ]

The Rabbit abounds in Great Britain, where its skin forms a very considerable article in the manufactory of hats. Although the Hare and the Rabbit are so like each other, nature has placed a strong barrier between them, in their feeling of mutual aversion. Besides this, there is a wide difference in their habits and pursuits: the rabbit lives in holes in the earth, where it brings forth its young, and retires from the approach of danger; whilst the Hare prefers the open fields, and trusts to its speed for safety. The female makes a bed of down for her young, which she pulls off her own coat. She never leaves them, but when pressed with hunger, and returns as soon as that is supplied. During the time she tends them, she carefully conceals them from the male, lest he should devour them; and often covers up the mouth of the hole, that her retreat may not be discovered. The tame Rabbit is of various colours, and is somewhat larger than the wild Rabbit; but its flesh is not so good, being softer and more insipid. Its food is generally cabbage leaves, colewort, blades of corn, sourdock, and other moist plants; but sweet short hay, and a little clean oats, make the best diet.

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THE SQUIRREL.

THE SQUIRREL. ]

This beautiful little creature is of a bright brown colour, inclined to red; the breast and belly are white; the ears are ornamented with long tufts of hair; the eyes are large, black, and lively; the fore teeth strong and sharp; and the fore legs are curiously furnished with long stiff hairs, which project on each side like whiskers. When it eats, it sits upright, and uses its fore feet as hands to convey food to its mouth. It is equally admired for its neatness and elegance of form, as for its liveliness and activity. Its disposition is gentle and harmless. Though naturally wild, and very timid, it is easily taught to receive with freedom the most familiar caresses from the hand that feeds it. It usually lives in woods, and makes its nest of moss or dry leaves in the hollow of trees. It seldom descends upon the ground, but leaps from tree to tree with great agility. Its food consists of fruits, almonds, nuts, and acorns; of which it collects great stores for winter provision, and secures them carefully near its nest. In the summer it feeds on buds and young shoots, and is very fond of the cones or apples of the fur and pine trees. The tail of the Squirrel is its greatest ornament, and serves as a defence from the cold, being large enough to cover the whole body; it likewise assists it in leaping from one tree to another.

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THE DORMOUSE.

This animal is very much like the common mouse. Its colour is a tawny red, the throat white, the tail tufted. When it is thirsty it does not lap, but dips its fore feet, with the toes bent, into the water, and drinks from them. In the summer this curious little creature is very industrious, laying up its provision for the winter, which consists of nuts, beans, and acorns. As soon as the cold weather approaches, it rolls itself up into a ball, with its tail curled over its head between its ears, and continues in that state till the warm weather comes again.

THE DORMOUSE. ]

Dormice build their nests either in the hollows of trees, or near the bottom of thick shrubs, and line them with moss, soft birchens, and dried leaves. Conscious of the length of time they have to pass in their solitary cells, they are very choice of the materials they make use of.

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THE RAT.

THE RAT. ]

There are two kinds known in this country—the Black Rat, which was formerly universal, but is now very rarely seen, having been almost all destroyed by the large brown kind, generally distinguished by the name of the Norway Rat. This formidable invader is now found throughout the country, from whence every method has been tried in vain to expel it. It is about nine inches long; of a light brown colour, the throat and under part of a dirty white inclining to grey; its feet are naked, and of a pale flesh colour; and the tail is as long as the body. It is a very bold little animal, and when closely pursued, will turn and fasten on its assailant. Its bite is keen, and the wound it inflicts is painful, and difficult to heal, owing to the form of its teeth, which are long, sharp, and irregular. It is a very singular fact in the history of these animals, that the skins of such as have been devoured in their holes, (and they frequently feed upon each other,) have been found curiously turned inside out; every part being completely turned, even to the ends of the toes. How the operation is performed, it would be difficult to discover; but it appears to be effected by some peculiar mode of eating out the contents. Besides the numbers that perish in this unnatural way, they have many fierce and terrible enemies that take every opportunity to destroy them.

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THE WATER RAT.

THE WATER RAT. ]

The Water Rat is somewhat smaller than the common brown Rat; its head and nose are thicker; its eyes are small; its ears short, scarcely appearing through the hair; its teeth are large, strong and yellow. In an old one, the lower front teeth measure somewhat more than half an inch in length. The hair on its head and body is thicker and longer than that of the common Rat, and chiefly of a dark brown colour, mixed with red; the belly is grey; the tail five inches long, covered with short black hairs, and the tip of the tail is white. The Water Rat generally frequents the sides of rivers, ponds, and ditches, where it burrows, and forms its nest. It feeds on frogs, small fish, and spawn; swims and dives remarkably fast; and can continue a long time under water.

The Musk Rat somewhat resembles the one just described. The eyes are large; the ears short, rounded, and covered both inside and outside with hair. Its fur is soft, glossy, and of a reddish-brown colour; and beneath this is a much finer fur or thick down, which is very useful in the manufacture of hats. The tail is flattened and covered with scales.

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