File:The animals of the world. Brehm's life of animals; (1895) (20747908476).jpg

Title: The animals of the world. Brehm's life of animals;
Identifier: cu31924024782827 (find matches)
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Brehm, Alfred Edmund, 1829-1884; Pechuel-Loesche, Eduard, 1840-1913; Haacke, Wilhelm, 1855-1912; Schmidtlein, Richard
Subjects: Mammals
Publisher: Chicago, A. N. Marquis
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
THE HARES. 373 the interference of Man. Two imported species are at present widely spread in Australia and New Zea- land also. The Hares' are found in all climates, in plains and on mountains, in the open country and in clefts of rock, above and below the surface of the earth: in short, everywhere, and where one species ceases another commences; the locality which is not adapted for occupancy by the one possesses a contented inhabitant in another. All prefer to feed on tender, juicy plants, but one might say that they reaUy refuse nothing within their reach. They eat all portions of plants from the roots to the fruit, though they are most partial to the leaves of low growing herbs. Most of them live gregariously to a certain extent and rarely forsake their domicile when they have once selected it, or it has been given them. There they lie hidden during the day in a de- pression or hole, and prowl about at night, looking sion consists of a dull growl, or when frightened a loud, pitiful squeal. The "Crying Hares," belonging to this family justify their name. The voice is sel- dom heard though, and is accompanied and sup- plemented by a peculiar flopping of the hind legs, which signifies either fear or anger and is intended to convey a warning. The various species exhibit somewhat wide differences in intellectual capacity. In general the Hares do not justify our precon- ceived ideas of them. They are said to be good- natured, peaceable, inoffensive and cowardly; they prove, however, that they can be the very reverse of all this. Close observers flatly deny the good-na- ture and pronounce the Hares malicious and quar- relsome to the utmost. Their timorous disposition, watchfulness and shyness are universally known, while the cunning which they acquire and which reaches really wonderful development in advanced
Text Appearing After Image:
THE VISCAGHA. In the pampas of the .Argentine Repubhc the Viscacha, an animal related to the Chinchillas, is one of the most com- mon of Rodents. The picture appropriately depicts this species in the high, coarse grass of its native plains, and shows them in company tor they are gregarious animals. Its actions resemble a Rabbit's but it is not so timid nor so fleet of foot as the latter. (Lagostomus trichodactylus.) for food. Strictly speaking, when in thinly popu- lated districts they rest only during the noon hours and run about in broad daylight of evenings and mornings if they deem themselves secure from dan- ger. Their movements are very peculiar. The well known speed of the Hares is exhibited only in full course; when their gait is a slow walk they are very clumsy and awkward, owing to the disproportionate length of their hind legs, which renders an even gait difficult. They are able, however, to turn about sharply when in full flight, and give evidence of an agility for which one would not give them credit. They shun water, though they swim across rivers when hard pressed. Physical and Among their perceptive senses that Mental Character-oi hearing certainly ranks first: this istios of Hares, faculty undoubtedly attains among Rodents a development found in few other animals. Their sense of smell is weaker, though not deficient, and their sight is fairly keen. Their vocal expres- age, is much less well known. Neither are they such cowards as is usually believed. One certainly wrongs them in emphasizing this quality in the way Linnpeus has done, who denounced the Alpine Hare as a coward beyond redemption. Propagation Though the rate of reproduction of of the the Hare is not as excessive as that Hares. of some other Rodents, it is still great enough, and the old saying of sportsmen that the Hare goes out alone in spring and comes back in autumn in a company sixteen strong, has its full value in localities where life uses our subject kindly and pursuit does not wax hot. Most species have several litters a year, each numbering from three to six, nay, even eleven young; but nearly all are defi- cient in the parental instinct and treat their off- spring in an exceedingly careless way; hence many of their progeny perish. In addition to this, a vast army of enemies lie in wait for the savory game, foes of widely variant species in every continent,

Note About Images