Ken Lilly (British, 1929 - 1996) "Hare" Initialed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood Mint Stamps of the World Panel for the U.S.S.R. Wildlife issue of 1989. Members of the leporidae family, hares are animals with roots reaching back into the Paleocene era. This familiar long-eared creature is even mentioned in folklore and mythology, for the Germanic earth goddess Ostara favored hares above all other animals. Contrary to some popular thought, hares are not forest or deep woodland creatures. They commonly occur in open terrain and around cultivated fields which yield year-round sustenance for the population. Hares avoid high elevations and cold, moist ground, preferring warm, dry habitats with rich loamy ground cvoerings. These animals are non-migratory and usually live their lives within a mile or two of their birthplace. Hares are born fully furred and are nursed for two to three weeks thereafter. After weaning, the young hares eat adult fare. Wild hares are strictly herbivorous, and their diet includes green plants, twigs, bark, shrubs and weed seeds. In cultivated areas, hares frequently help themselves to produce such as cabbage, parsley and winter grains. Their eyesight is relatively poor; they can usually detect movement, but little else. Hares depend upon their sharpest senses -- hearing and smell -- to alert them to danger and often stand on their powerful hind legs to test their surroundings. Image Size: 13.75 x 11 in. Overall Size: 18 x 14.5 in. Unframed. (B12111) See More