Posted by Kathleen on September 11, 19103 at 17:32:30:

In Reply to: William Cowper's "Hares", Rabbits, Bunnies posted by Deborah on February 27, 19100 at 18:20:17:

: Hi Everyone!

: A couple of Mr Cowper's poems describe his experience raising two House Rabbits. (epitaph on a hare and an excerpt from The TaskII) Any informatiion about these hares would be appreciated. What they looked like, perhaps. Hares and rabbits tend to be lumped together as the same creatures, but they are very different. Thanks in Advance,
: Deborah "Hare"

Eleven genera and 47 species of rabbits and hares make up the order Leporidae. Generally the term "Hare" is used for the 23 species in the genus Lepus although there is always some confusion when common names area applied - such as the North American jackrabbits which are technically hares of the genus Lepus. Rabbits are hares are ( approximatly - there are some intermediate species) distinguished by 1) Hares having much larger ears and hind feet, proportionall, and 2) rabbit young (kits) are born , blind and helpless in a nest while hares (leverets) are fully furred, eyes open and able to out run most predators within an hour of birth. Cowper's hares were almost surely Lepus europaeus - the Brown Hare although a second species Lepus timidus, the Blue or Mountain Hare does also occur in the wilder parts of the British Isles, especially Ireland and Scotland.It is rather remarkable that Cowper even semi-domesticated Puss, Bess and Tiny as hares are generally considered much wilder and less sociable than most rabbits. "wild as a March hare"
Anything else you would like to know, let me know.
Kathleen

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