PAGES OF HARE LORE 



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do not ascend the hillside, as sheep would try to do 

 under similar circumstances ; they either lie in their 

 forms as described, or pick their way about the skirts 

 of the preserves. As long as the snow is soft and 

 treacherous, it is dangerous for the hare to abandon 

 the shelter of her favourite cover in order to forage 

 for food out in the open fields. 



I must not omit to notice the fact that when fresh 

 snow has fallen a hare is easily tracked by the imprints 

 of her feet. Countryfolk have always entertained a 

 weakness for this variety of sport. It is a little sur- 

 prising that it should ever have been thought necessary 

 to declare it illegal in our mild climate. The fact is 

 that the hare can bound with great ease and speed 

 over the surface of frozen snow. It sinks easily, how- 

 ever, into soft snow, and cannot readily make good 

 its escape from a fast dog ; the latter, being more 

 powerful than the hare, finds less difficulty in plough- 

 ing its way through the yielding substance. In view 

 of the class distinctions already discussed, it is inter- 

 esting to notice that Henry VIII. allowed no one, 

 whatever his station in life or estate, to trace, destroy, 

 or kill any hare in the snow with any dog, bitch, bow, 

 or otherwise. ' And the sessions or leet may enquire 

 thereof; and after inquisition found, they shall for 

 every hare so killed, cess upon every offender 6j-. 8^., 



