The hare (Lepus) is a genus of rodent quadrupeds similar to the rabbit, with long ears, long hind legs, a short tail, soft hair and a divided upper lip. The two fore-feet have five and the hinder four toes. They run by a kind of leaping pace. The young hare is called a leveret and are born in litters of between three and six leverets up to four times a year. The young leverets have their eyes open at birth.
The common hare (Lepus timidus) is found throughout Europe and some parts of Asia. It is tawny red on the back and white on the belly, and is about 60 cm long. The mountain hare or varying hare (Lepus variabilis), confined to Northern Europe and the mountainous regions of the south, is smaller than the common hare, and becomes white in winter. The former Lepus cuniculus, now, Oryctolagus cuniculus, is the rabbit, properly so called, distinguished by its smaller size and burrowing habits. The American hare (Lepus Americanus), not much larger than a rabbit, is found in most parts of North America. In North America there are also the polar hare (Lepus glacialis), a variety of the varying hare (Lepus variabilis), but of superior size and purer colour; and the prairie hare (Lepus campestris), one of the species known as jackass hares or Jack-rabbits, from their size and length of limb.
The hare is protected from its enemies mainly by the acuteness of its sight and hearing and its extraordinary swiftness of foot. Its voice is never heard except when seized or wounded, when it utters a sharp loud cry, not very unlike that of a child. Its flesh is rather dry, but is much prized for its peculiar flavour. Research Hare
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Nature
Research Hare
