HAKB HUNTING. 275 



HARE HUNTING. 



We have no rabbits in America, although the animals called rab- 

 bits — but really hares — are sufficiently plentiful to afford gooci 

 sport with dogs, in the fall and early winter. It may be of interest 

 to note here that the principal specific differences between hares 

 and rabbits, are that the former breed twice a year only, and make 

 their forms upon the ground under the shelter of bushes or tufts 

 of grass, weeds, or brakes, while the latter breed once a month and 

 are burrowing animals, making their hiding-places underground 

 and in company on the sides of dry banks, the places being called 

 " warrens." 



The larger hare, which changes its color in the winter, is abun- 

 dant in the Eastern States, Northern New York, Canada, and the 

 wooded portions of the North-western States. The writer has had 

 excellent sport in the wooded regions of the northern peninsula of 

 Michigan and the adjoining part of Wisconsin, in the early fall, 

 when a few sharp frosts have caused the woods previously dressed 

 in their gorgeous habits of crimson and gold, to drop their foliage 

 and admit the light of day without interference. The most useful 

 dog in such a case, is a setter trained for this especial work, 

 taught to beat the ground properly, pomt his game, to range low 

 and to retrieve well. 



The Small Hare, which does not change color in the winter, af- 

 fords good sport in the fall, m the cultivated country further 

 south, in open woods, stubble fields, and meadows. For hare 

 shooting alone, a pair of small beagles are to be preferred. The 

 pace of these little hounds is comparatively slow, but they will 

 follow up their game tirelessly through all their doublings and 

 twistings, and will always bring them back to the starting point. 

 Here, covered by a stump, a tree, or a bush, the sportsman stands 

 stUl, waiting for the return of the game, and listening, meanwhile, 

 to the smaU music of these melodious little animals during the 

 few minutes the circuit is making. The cry of the hounds will 

 inform the hunter of the direction in which to look for the game, 

 and unless he remains perfectly motionless, without doing more 



