NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



does the colour of their fur blend with the sur- 

 roundings ' that, when sitting immovable, they are 

 exceedingly hard to find. 



Many a time on pebbly ground I have surprised 

 baby hares during the early hours of the morning, 

 or about sunset, or on dull, cloudy days, but without 

 the aid of good dogs I could rarely find them. The 

 instant I came upon the scene I would catch a 

 momentary glimpse of two or three little grey balls 

 of fur and small, white, upturned tails, and the 

 vision would vanish the little creatures had sud- 

 denly squatted, relying upon their resemblance to 

 the stones and earth around them to escape observa- 

 tion. 



It is not often, however, that the leverets venture 

 into open spaces for, being too young to escape by 

 flight, their only means of escape from their enemies 

 is by concealment. 



The Secretary Bird is accused by sportsmen of 

 destroying young hares, and is often shot at sight 

 in consequence. The number of young hares de- 

 voured by Secretary Birds is not by any means 

 large. This I know from the examination of the 

 crops of scores of these birds. It must be borne in 

 mind that the young hares usually lie concealed 

 from view under thick tufts of grass and low, dense 

 bushes during the daylight hours when the Secretary 

 Bird is on the prowl, and that it hunts by sight 

 only. In any case hares are vermin as far as man is 

 concerned. 



190 



