28 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HARE 



where they draw into the neighbourhood of stackyards 

 and nibble at the haystacks. If any turnips have been 

 left uncovered you are pretty sure to find in the 

 morning that the hare has found them out, and taken 

 sly advantage of its opportunity. More serious loss 

 is caused in the wintertime by the hare's propensity 

 for gnawing the bark of young trees. 



The loss in nursery gardens, where valuable pines 

 are grown, is often very considerable. One of the 

 best methods of averting probable mischief that have 

 been suggested is to place virgin cork round the stems 

 of the young trees, taking care to secure it with wires 

 in such a way that the attacks of hares and rabbits 

 will be rendered ineffectual. These animals can fast 

 for several days at a time without injury. They are 

 usually in the very finest condition at the beginning 

 of winter, so that they can afford to undergo some 

 waste of adipose tissue without experiencing serious 

 suffering. If a heavy fall of snow happens to sweep 

 across the country, the hare often submits to be buried 

 where it lies, right out in the open field. Only a tiny 

 hole in the snow is kept open by the warm breath of 

 the animal. Its imprisonjnent may last five or six 

 days without harm to the little (juadruped ; but the 

 majority of hares seek shelter in the woods and s})in- 

 neys during periods of speciallyprotracted frost. They 



