26 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HARE 



CHAPTER II 



PAGES OF HARE LORE 



For the first few weeks of their existence leverets 

 follow their female parent. Under her careful tutelage 

 they soon learn to crop their favourite clover and to 

 ramble in search of fields of growing carrots. But 

 the love of independence is common to leverets as to 

 most other young creatures. In fact, no sooner do 

 the little fellows find that they can trust to their own 

 powers of wind and limb, than they shake off parental 

 restraint, and roam through the hayfields in search of 

 young loves and fresh adventures. Eventually every 

 individual becomes an anchorite. She makes her 

 form in a snug and quiet corner ; to it she returns 

 repeatedly, until tired of its monotony. Life is easy 

 and pleasant during the summer months. At first 

 she browses upon sweet clover and tender shoots of 

 herbage. As the corn springs up in the fields, the 

 hare repairs to the standing oats ; nor does she hesi- 

 tate to risk the safety of her neck in following the 



