506 Short Communications : — 



rabbits on the northern coast of the county of Donegal, in 

 Ireland, in V. 579. The editorial query adduced in the latter 

 place, on the wildness of the black variety in this locality, is, 

 doubtless, quite superfluous. Looking on the months in which 

 the black hares were captured, the thought arises that snow 

 was probably on the ground, and gave the blackness of the 

 hares that conspicuousness which led to the destruction of 

 them. — J, D. 



Sagacity of the Hare. — The French Manuel du Chasseur, 

 quoting Jacques du Fouilloux, the author of a celebrated 

 Treatise on Hunting, first printed in 1561 (folio, at Poitiers) 

 says, — "I have seen a hare, when meaning to practise a de- 

 ception, quit its seat without being alarmed by a dog, go to a 

 pond, at the distance of a quarter of a league, wash itself, 

 and pass off again from the water through a quantity of 

 rushes. I have seen a hare, that has been chased for full two 

 hours by the hounds, thrust another hare from its seat, and 

 take its place. I have seen hares swim successively through 

 two or three ponds, of which the smallest was fourscore 

 paces round. I have also seen them, after having been 

 chased for ten hours, creep under the door of a sheep-house 

 {d^un toit a hrebis\ and rest itself among the cattle. I have 

 seen them, when before the dogs, get into the middle of a 

 flock of sheep, and accompany them in all their motions over 

 the field, avoiding to quit them by any means. 1 have seen 

 them pass forward on one side of a hedge, and return by the 

 other, there being only the breadth of the hedge between 

 the hare and the hounds. I have also seen them, after half 

 an hour's chase, spring on the top of an old wall, 6 ft. in 

 height, and there settle on the narrow^ covering of ivy." — 

 J, Couch. Polperro, Cmmtmll, May 29. 1834. 



Monstrosity in a Hare. — On Monday, a young hare, 

 nearly a month old, was found near the Hay (having been 

 killed by a stone), which presented a most singular conform- 

 ation. The head and fore feet were perfect down to the 

 back, where two separate bodies commenced, each completed 

 with legs and tails, but separate from the navel, and of the 

 male genus, the two bodies appearing equally strong and 

 perfect. This singular curiosity is now in the possession of 

 Mr. T. Cooke, auctioneer, of Hereford. {Bath Herald, 

 quoted in the Morning Herald, August 1. 1825.) 



The Otter {hutra vulgaris Flem.). — The Manuel du Chas- 

 seur affords the following information respecting the habits of 

 the otter : — " It does not dig the hole in which it lives ; but 

 occupies the first convenient cavity, among the roots of trees, 

 or crevices of rocks. It feeds on fish and crabs ; and when 



