46 HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



scrutiny." Any one with a knowledge of these animals 

 is aware that their scenting powers are very highly 

 developed. " They seem," adds the poet, " to be 

 very much directed by the smell in the choice of their 

 favourites ; to some persons, though they saw them 

 daily, they could never be reconciled, and would even 

 scream when they attempted to touch them ; but a 

 miller coming in engaged their affections at once ; 

 his powdered coat had charms that were irre- 

 sistible." 



Hares, as Cowper intimates, have plenty of courage 

 of their own. Of that I have no manner of doubt, 

 although they are accounted by the vast majority 

 of people among the most timid creatures in the world. 

 They are also extremely pugnacious. A writer in 

 the Field of February 8, 1902, signing his letter with 

 the initials " V. T.," gives some very interesting 

 details upon this subject : 



" In August last a keeper brought me two leverets, 

 only just able to feed themselves. They had been 

 captured in a field of long clover, their mother being 

 with them at the time. I put them into a low, wide 

 tin bath, wired all round and over the top. They 

 were at first terrified, and sat huddled together for 

 the remainder of the day and night, refusing food of 

 any sort. In the early hours of the morning I suc- 

 ceeded in feeding them with some warm milk — and 

 again later — till, by degrees, they began to nibble 

 clover. I tamed them by slow stages, till they would 

 eat from my hand and let me nurse them. But as 

 their fear of me gradually diminished, I was amazed 

 to find how forcibly and persistently they were pre- 

 pared to resent interference. They flew at me, bit and 

 scratched me, making a most peculiar hissing sound, 

 and so ferocious and hurtful were their attacks that 



