SPARK Spring 2016 | Page 18

Animals In Spring Spring sees an end to hibernation with creatures great and small out to eat fresh food and build a nest. Here are some much-loved favourites. Hares Rabbits These lolloping whiskered hoppers have longer ears than rabbits and their babies are born above ground in long grass, not in burrows. The Easter bunny was first introduced by the Germans who called him “Easter hare”. Children left out carrots for the bunny as a reward for doing lots of hopping as it delivered them coloured eggs! As rabbits have many babies, they are seen as a symbol of new life. Did you know? If a person says someone is “as mad as a March hare”, it means that they are very excitable! This saying comes from the old belief that hares behave strangely in March, for example jumping vertically (straight up) into the air. Photo: Sumeet 18 SPARK Moghe “ I almost wish I hadn't gone down that rabbit-hole—and yet—and yet—it's rather curious, you know, this sort of life! Alice from Alice In Wonderland “ The March Hare appears in the tea party scene in Lewis Carroll’s story Alice In Wonderland. Photo: JJ Harriso n