HARES 113 



the hounds who have to catch the game, and not 

 the huntsman, it is not judicious to overdo a part 

 and have them too large. 



Q, Do hares breed more than once a year ? 

 A, A doe hare breeds probably three or four 

 times in the twelve months. 



Q. Do hares pair as rabbits do ? 

 A* No ; they have broad views as to matri- 

 monial ties ! 



Q. How many leverets are there usually at 

 a birth ? 



A, Generally two, but sometimes three, and 

 very occasionally four or five. 



Q. What situations are favourites with hares 

 for making their forms ? 



A. Hares will remain in woods and plantations 

 until the leaves fall, when they usually desert 

 them for a time, for the continual falling of 

 leaves seems to " get on their nerves " and annoy 

 them ; and so also do the restless habits of 

 rabbits, and where these are plentiful hares, as 

 a rule, will not stop. They are very sensitive to 

 changes of weather, and as each hare usually has 

 three or four forms in different places, an observant 

 person who gets to know the habits of a particular 

 hare can sometimes make a shrewd guess at an 

 imminent change, according to which form the 

 hare selects for the day. They love to lie warm 

 and dry, and well-sheltered from the prevailing 

 wind. In the winter months, after the turnips 

 have been gathered into pies, rough meadow- 

 fields are a sure find for a hare ; and in fine 

 weather they will lie in a fallow-field that has 

 been ploughed some time, and here they are sure 

 9 



