THE HARE AND HER TROD 75 



servants who use their leisure to kill these animals. 

 Another malpractice is to set an iron trap for a hare in 

 its run, digging out a turf, and covering the trap over 

 with grass. The good will of farmers should be en- 

 listed in preserving hares wherever possible. Gene- 

 rous treatment is pretty sure to meet with its own 

 reward. Certainly it costs something ; but it must 

 not be forgotten that the farmer has more power of 

 protecting ground game than the keeper ; it is worth 

 while, even from a selfish standpoint, to secure his 

 sympathies for the proper preservation of game. As 

 a rule he is apathetic enough about the conduct of 

 his servants ; provided that the farm hands work well 

 in fair and foul weather alike, he considers that it 

 is no particular business of his to pry curiously into 

 the way in which they spend their leisure time. A 

 certain Scottish village boasts among its inhabitants 

 a stalwart ploughman, whom nature has afflicted 

 with an unquenchable thirst. His efforts to allay this 

 distressing complaint have earned for him the sobri- 

 quet of the 'Whale.' Once upon a time, it hap- 

 pened that the ' Whale ' cast an envious eye upon the 

 goodly hares that daily fattened upon the standing 

 corn of his master. The tracks which the animals 

 made through the green crops suggested to his evil 

 imagination the possibilities of snares. He proceeded 



