hare

a kind of animal – mammal – related to rabbits, but with some differences – grass-eating, four-legged, with mostly grey or light brown hair (coat/fur) with dark patches and white underside, and complete white (some species, mostly in winter);

cone-shaped head with long ears, long sharp front teeth, looking out of the upper lip which is slightly split (= with a cut or gap in the middle);

long strong hind (back) legs

long legs – back legs much longer and stronger than the front legs; a short tail; size: 1½ to 2 feet long and weighs 3-4 Kg.; feeds on (eats) grasses and herbs and also leaves, seeds, shoots and bark; lives for 10-13 years (depending on the species; some species live only for 2-5 years, and so on); found all over the world

male ~~ buck

female ~~ doe

baby ~~ leveret

group ~~ down, husk, leap, leash, kindle, drove, warren

voice (call) ~~ squeak

home ~~ nest (a shallow depression in the ground or a small area lined with grass on the ground – even for raising the leverets)

[The meat of a hare eaten by people is also called ‘hare’.]

Some common hares are: Arctic hare, mountain hare (?), snow-shoe hare, Indian or black-naped hare, European hare

Special Features:

Hares have been hunted for good, pelts (=skin with hair), and for sport.

Hares have not been domesticated; they are never kept as pets.

a hare in  its winter coat

The hares that live in the very cold parts of the world change their coat (hair) from grey or brown to complete white, with black ear tips. However, the ‘European hare’ is an exception: it does not change its colour in winter.

During the mating season, the hares are very erotic (= behave in a strange way).

They run in circles, jump, back-track their own steps and even box with one another!

hare-boxing

Previously, the ‘boxing event’ was thought to be males fighting with one another to win the females.  But observations reveal that it is not the males fighting with one another, but the females keeping off the unwanted males, or testing the patience of the males with a few punches!!

Hares have been associated with people for centuries: they are mentioned in scriptures, epochs and ancient fables.   In some cultures hares are respected but in some others they are treated as evil!

The famous fable ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’ has given us the moral that we should not underestimate our opponent or enemy however weak they may seem, and/or we should not have over-confidence in ourselves!

The ‘Belgian hare’ is not a hare but a rabbit bred to look like a hare!!

{Rabbit or Hare? >>>}

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[Return to "hare ~ hair" in Words Often Confused.]