CHAPTER II 



HARE 



The hare is familiarly called "old Aunt," or "old Sally," 

 by the marshmen, for they look upon him as their legitimate 

 property — as an old pal who will often come in handy — in 

 ■exchange for a few shillings. 



In March (or earlier, if the weather be open), when the 

 reeds are yellow and the rush dry and sere, you may come 

 across the bucks fighting on a moonlit night in a rush- 

 marsh, standing on their hind-legs, " smacking each other 

 in the face," and felt-pulling. Next day you will see large 

 forms in the rush-hillocks, with fur scattered about, and 

 you know that other fights have taken place. This is the 

 solstice of the love season ; for though young leverets may 

 be found every month in the year, March is the love-making 

 month — the month when the bucks (who are a bit smaller 

 than the does) will go miles of a night, running along mad with 

 mere desire (and then your experienced nooser sets his wires 

 low) on the doe's scent. Perhaps five or six bucks will start 

 after one doe, and all pick her up, when there is great com- 

 motion, the bucks jumping about, running into each other, 

 and jumping over each other, and fighting all for the doe. 

 At last one gets her ; and so exhausting is his love-spell, 

 that he often falls off backwards after the act, perfectly 

 dazed, as in a fit. At this season they are restless at the 

 top of the day too, and may be seen running about sniffing 

 the ground after some doe or other ; and you may tell them 

 as they run, for the buck runs with ears erect, whilst the doe 

 runs with ears laid back. She is timid, mayhap. Indeed 



