DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0213
DOMESTICATION OF HARES.
185
he was happier in human society than when shut up with his
natural companions.
Not so Tiney; upon him the kindest treatment had not
the least effect. He too was sick, and in his sickness had an
equal share of my attention; but if, after his recovery, I took
the liberty to stroke him. he would grunt, strike with his fore
feet, spring forwaid, and bite. He was, however, very en-
tertaining in his way; even his surliness was matter of mirth,
and in his play he preserved such an air of gravity, and per-
formed his feats with such a solemnity of manner, that in him
too I had an agreeable companion.
Bess, who died soon after he was full grown, and w'hose
death wfas occasioned by his being turned into his box, which
had been washed, while it was yet damp, was a hare of great
humour and drollery. Puss was tamed by gentle usage;
Tiney was not to be tamed at all; and Bess had a courage
and confidence that made him tame from the beginning. I
always admitted them into the parlour after supper, when
the carpet affording their feet a firm hold, they would frisk,
and bound, and play a thousand gambols, in which Bess,
being remarkably strong and fearless, was always superior to
the rest, and proved himself the Vestris of the party. One
evening the cat being in the room, had the hardiness to pat
Bess upon the cheek, an indignity which he resented by
drumming upon her back with such violence, that the cat
was happy to escape from undei his paws and hide herself.
1 describe these animals as having each a character of his
own. buch they were in fact, and their countenances were
so expressive of that character, that, when 1 looked only on
the face of either, I immediately kuewr which it was. It is
said, that a shepherd, however numerous his flock, soon be-
comes so familiar with their features, that he can, by that
indication only, distinguish each from all the rest; and yet,
to a common observer, the difference is hardly perceptible.
I doubt not that the same discrimination in the cast of coun-
tenances would be discoverable in hares, and am persuaded,
185
he was happier in human society than when shut up with his
natural companions.
Not so Tiney; upon him the kindest treatment had not
the least effect. He too was sick, and in his sickness had an
equal share of my attention; but if, after his recovery, I took
the liberty to stroke him. he would grunt, strike with his fore
feet, spring forwaid, and bite. He was, however, very en-
tertaining in his way; even his surliness was matter of mirth,
and in his play he preserved such an air of gravity, and per-
formed his feats with such a solemnity of manner, that in him
too I had an agreeable companion.
Bess, who died soon after he was full grown, and w'hose
death wfas occasioned by his being turned into his box, which
had been washed, while it was yet damp, was a hare of great
humour and drollery. Puss was tamed by gentle usage;
Tiney was not to be tamed at all; and Bess had a courage
and confidence that made him tame from the beginning. I
always admitted them into the parlour after supper, when
the carpet affording their feet a firm hold, they would frisk,
and bound, and play a thousand gambols, in which Bess,
being remarkably strong and fearless, was always superior to
the rest, and proved himself the Vestris of the party. One
evening the cat being in the room, had the hardiness to pat
Bess upon the cheek, an indignity which he resented by
drumming upon her back with such violence, that the cat
was happy to escape from undei his paws and hide herself.
1 describe these animals as having each a character of his
own. buch they were in fact, and their countenances were
so expressive of that character, that, when 1 looked only on
the face of either, I immediately kuewr which it was. It is
said, that a shepherd, however numerous his flock, soon be-
comes so familiar with their features, that he can, by that
indication only, distinguish each from all the rest; and yet,
to a common observer, the difference is hardly perceptible.
I doubt not that the same discrimination in the cast of coun-
tenances would be discoverable in hares, and am persuaded,