WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. ig 



would crush it down. When startled by a passer-by 

 the hare unless there is a dog goes off in a leisurely 

 fashion, doubtless feeling quite safe in the length 

 of his legs, and after getting a hundred yards or so 

 sits upon his haunches and watches the intruder. 

 Their " runs " or paths are rather broader than a 

 rabbit's, and straighten The rabbit does not ramble 

 so far from home ; he has his paths across the meadow 

 to the hedge on the other side, but no farther. The 

 hare's track may be traced for a great distance cross- 

 ing the hills ; but while the roads are longer they are 

 much fewer in number. The rabbit makes a perfect 

 network of " runs," and seems always to feed from a 

 regular path ; the hare apparently feeds anywhere, 

 without much reference to the " runs," which he 

 uses simply to get from one place to another in the 

 most direct line, and also, it may be suspected, as a 

 promenade on which to meet the ladies of his acquaint- 

 ance by moonlight. 



It is amusing to see two of these animals drum- 

 ming each other : they stand on their hind legs (which 

 are very long) like a dog taught to beg, and strike 

 with the fore pads as if boxing, only the blow is 

 delivered downwards instead of from the shoulder. 

 The clatter of their pads may be heard much farther 

 than would be supposed. Round and round they go 

 like a couple waltzing ; now one giving ground and 

 then the other, the fore legs striking all the while 

 with marvellous rapidity. Presently they pause it 

 is to recover breath only ; and " time " being up, to 



