The hooke of Hunting i6i 



be hereafter declared. A Bucke Hare wil abyde the hounds nea- 

 rer him when he fitteth, than the female will, bicaufe he feeleth 

 him felfe quicker, and his body better difpofed and hardier. If 

 when a Hare ryfeth out of the forme, flie fet vp hir eares, and run 

 not verie fail at the firfte, and caft vp hir Skut vpon hir backe, 

 it is a token that it is an olde and craftie Hare. Although fome 

 fay that there is no iudgement of difference betweene the male 

 and the female Hares, yet haue 1 founde the contrarie. For the 

 male Hare or bucke maketh his croteys always fmaller and dryer, 

 and more iharpned towards the end. The female maketh them 

 greater and rounder, and not fo dry. And the caufe is, that the fe- 

 male relieueth not fo farre out a nights, and is greater of bodye, 

 which caufeth hir to make the greater Croteys alfo. You fliall 

 knowe a bucke as you hunt him to the forme : for you fhal find y* 

 he hath more beaten the hard high wayes, and feedeth further out 

 into the playnes, and maketh his doublings and croflings much 

 wyder, and of greater compafle than the female doth. For 

 fhe will keepe clofe by fome couerts fide, turning and winding 

 in the bullies like a Coney. And if Ihe goe to reliefe in the corne 

 fields, fhe wil not lightly crofTe ouer the furrowes, but foloweth 

 them al along, and ftayeth much vpon the thickeft tufts of corne 

 to feede : Neither is fhe fatiffied by feeding hir bellye full, but 

 fhreds the corne, and fcattreth it as flie goeth. Likewife you may 

 knowe a Bucke at rifing out of the forme, for he hath his hinder 

 parts much more whitely, as if he were grey or downy : Or you 

 fhall knowe him if you marke his fhoulders well before he ryfe, 

 for they are redder than a female Hares be, and will haue fome 

 lofe long h aires growing on them. Again e, you may know him 

 by his heade, the which is Ihorter and better trufTed than the fe- 

 males is. The hairs about his lips and cheeks, are longer, and com- 

 monly his eares fhorter, greater, and more whitely. The female 

 hath a long and leane head, hir eares long, the haire vpon y« chine 

 of hir backe, blackifh greye. And commonly when hounds hunt 

 a female Hare, fhe will vfe more crofTmg, doubling, and turning 

 before them, pafTmgfeuen or eight times one way,and neuermaketh 

 out endwayes before the hounds. The male doth contrary : for if 



the 



