64 THE HARE 



It has what is known as a "form," a little sheltered hollow in which 

 it lies up. A hare uses the same "form" for a considerable time, and 

 when put up will invariably return to it, after making a long circuit. 



Some will lie very close in these "forms." Once, when out shoot- 

 ing with my wife on the Tai-yuan plain, I came upon a hare lying in 

 its "form" in an open field of stubble. Standing right over it I called 

 my wife and the coolie carrying our cartridges to come and have a look. 

 The hare remained perfectly still till we had had a good look at it, and 

 then only ran when I touched it with my foot. 



Another incident of a similar nature occurred near the same place 

 a few days later. Four of us were working through some scrub, look- 

 ing for quail, partridges and hare. Suddenly one of the coolies called 

 us back, and pointed to a large hare lying at his feet. This one also 

 required a touch of the foot before it broke away. 



From two to five young are born in a litter, the pretty little crea- 

 tures being perfect in shape and able to run about at once. Several 

 litters are produced in a year, and as they may appear very early in 

 the season and also very late, not infrequently cause searchings of 

 heart on the part of the sportsman, who inadvertantly shoots a doe 

 with young. The only way to avoid this is to note carefully before 

 pulling whether the hare is moving smartly with quick turns and long 

 jumps, or listlessly with a comparatively slow lopping gait. 



In winter hares love warm sunny banks, and will lie out on sparse- 

 ly covered hill-sides facing south, but in summer they seek the cool 

 and shelter of the densest thorn scrub; while in cultivated country 

 they may nearly always be found in the family grave patches that are 

 scattered amongst the ploughed fields. 



They range from sea level up to eight or ten thousand feet, can 

 withstand extremes of temperature, and find food in the scantiest 

 harbage of the desert, as easily as in the luxurious vegetation of sub- 

 tropical forests. They, like all rodents, form what scientists call a 

 successful race, and will long exist to give sport to the hunter and 

 joy to the gourmand. 



