42 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE HARE 



railway. Platelayers get their share of such chance 

 booty, and know well upon what parts of the line 

 a search along the metals in the early morning will 

 prove most profitable. Mr. A. T. Story reports the 

 experience of a driver who used to run over one 

 of the western lines threading a well-preserved 

 country. 'Game was in abundance, and frequently 

 coveys of birds were seen upon the line. One day, 

 however, while going slowly up a steep incline with 

 a goods train, he astonished his mate by stepping 

 down from his engine, getting over the fence into a 

 field, and immediately afterwards returning with two 

 live hares. As they were going up the incline he saw 

 two hares fighting. When they do this they sit on 

 their hind-quarters and go at it like two boxers. 

 This they generally do in such a blind rage that they 

 may be approached unnoticed. Our driver knew 

 this, and so quietly went up to them and took first 

 one and then the other by the scruff of the neck, as 

 he put it, and then walked off with them to his 

 engine.' ' 



The power of scent is well developed in hares, 

 and doubtless assists the old doe in finding her 

 young. Poachers often rub their hands with fresh 



' Slrand Magazine, viii. p. 2S6. 



