The Hare 



Although the Squirrel hibernates during the severe 

 weather of winter, still the animal seldom misses a raid 

 through the woods when there is winter sunshine 

 lightening the outer branches of the forest. 



As an amateur trapper, the Brown Hare proved 

 my first victim. From observation, I learned that 

 Hares were distinctly nocturnal feeders, and that they 

 generally moved from field to field by a well-defined 

 route. Without any other knowledge as a trapper, 

 I set a brass looped wire, where I had observed a 

 Hare passing nightly, and next morning the animal 

 had the wire round its neck — dead. This is a very 

 common method of trapping the Brown Hare, and is 

 carried out by the farmer who does not shoot, but 

 who finds his turnips broken during the night season. 

 The poaching ploughman often sets such a snare, and 

 the wearied shepherd twists a brass wire and amuses 

 himself by catching the timid creature. Professional 

 poachers rely to some extent upon this same instrument 

 to fill their bag, but, nevertheless, these men employ 

 a surer and more deadly form of capture. As the 

 twilight approaches, the poacher erects a net upon a 

 field-gate and orders his lurcher to drive the field. 

 As the dog quarters the meadow the Hare dashes for 

 the gateway, strikes the net, rolls over, and a simple 

 child-like scream ends the career of the hunted. 



While it has to be granted that the Brown Hare is 

 endowed for defensive purposes above many of its 



B.L.M. 57 8 



