Northern Observations of Inland Birds 19 



on which, an hour or so previously, they were abundant. 

 Instinct or something akin to it led me to explore this 

 doubtful stronghold, and, removing the peat overhanging, 

 what was my surprise on finding two hares huddled 

 together like rabbits in a waterlogged drain ! This 

 is the first time within my experience that I have known 

 two Alpine hares to make use of the same seat, for though 

 they are more sociable than brown hares, in that one and 

 all follow the same runways, and consequently congregate 

 much at certain favourite points, they are, in disposition, 

 pathetically solitary, and never so far as I know live 

 together as rabbits do. There can be no question but 

 that the incidents related were due to the great fear of 

 the animals on having just seen the eagle, and had I 

 continued to search I should probably have caught more 

 hares skulking in the same manner. As it was I did not 

 see another specimen till I had walked two or three miles 

 — evidently they were all hiding. 



It may be added that where eagles and peregrines are 

 rare, it is very unusual for mountain hares to resort to 

 underground shelters of any kind. They are as daylight 

 and above board in their habits as are brown hares, and 

 in these parts it is considered worthy of note if one of 

 the animals is seen to enter a hole — unless it is wounded. 

 In other localities, however, where eagles and large birds 

 of prey are constantly quartering the ground, the hares 

 have numerous underground seats, and in deep snow I 

 have known them to bolt underground like rabbits on 

 the approach of man. This observation is particularly 

 interesting on account of the fact that the hare is among 

 the least adaptable of all wild creatures. 



On another occasion we were working slowly along a 

 corrie, resorting constantly to the glasses, when we 

 noticed a mysterious movement on the part of the grouse. 

 First odd birds, then in twos and threes they came flying 



B 2 



