1886-87.] The Hare. 67 



should not be shot till the commencement of the partridge 

 season. This remark, it will be understood, does not apply to 

 the protection of leverets. 



On the fifth and last point, as to how early young hares 

 breed, it would be rash to affirm that hares dropped late in 

 February or early in March never breed during the same year : 

 still such cases, if any, are, I am certain, exceedingly rare. 

 There are several points of resemblance between the hare and 

 the rabbit, but in this respect there is an essential difference. 



Having thus disposed of these physiological questions, I 

 would now briefly advert to a few characteristic traits which I 

 have observed in the hare. Though somewhat unusual, .it 

 sometimes happens that in the early spring hares are seen en- 

 gaged in furious combat, like the red deer which have been 

 immortalised by the genius of Landseer. I was once fortunate 

 enough to witness such an encounter, which lasted abo\it half 

 an hour. The two rivals stood on their hind legs, and, with 

 wonderful dexterity, hammered each other on the head and 

 breast, tearing off the down with their fore feet ; and so deeply 

 engrossed were they in their engagement, that I managed to 

 get within thirty yards of them unobserved. How long they 

 liad already fought I, of course, had no means of ascertaining ; 

 but, as they seemed equally matched, I lay down and watched 

 the result with interest. For a considerable time neither 

 yielded an inch to the other, but they stood, like the "Saxon 

 and the Gael," in deadly strife. Besides their loud and rapid 

 breathing, which I distinctly heard, they emitted a peculiar 

 defiant noise, which I am afraid I am unable adequately to 

 describe. Still the fight continued, but I could see their sides 

 heaving and their blows becoming feebler and less desperate. 

 At last one of them, evidently worsted, turned and galloped off, 

 hotly pursued by his antagonist. Within fifty yards, however, 

 they again closed, and the battle was waged as before. But it 

 was this time of short duration, as unfortunately the barking of 

 a shepherd's dog, gathering the sheep in the field, caused them 

 to scamper off into a young wood, where I have no doubt the 

 battle would be decided. I hurried to the place where they 

 disappeared, got up into a tree, but was disappointed in not 

 seeing the end of this most interesting incident in Natural 

 History. 



