so HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



by our presence ; so, where one had to go on, and the 

 other was determined that he should not, a fight was 

 inevitable." 



The eyes of hares are large and prominent, and so 

 placed that they can see well on either side and even 

 behind them. When chased, their attentions are 

 naturally directed chiefly towards their pursuers 

 clamouring in the rear. A pack of foxhounds were, 

 many years ago, hunting at Terling, in Essex, and 

 some hares as well as foxes were disturbed in cover. 

 Running headlong down one of the rides, a hare met 

 a terrier which had joined in the pursuit, and was 

 also going at great speed. The two animals met 

 in mid career, and the shock was so great that both 

 lay apparently dead. The dog eventually recovered, 

 but not so the hare, whose skull was found to be 

 completely shattered. 



Cowper has some very interesting observations on 

 the food of his tame hares, which seem to be well worth 

 reproducing. He says : 



" I take it to be a general opinion that they graze, 

 but it is an erroneous one, at least grass is not their 

 staple ; they seem rather to use it medicinally, soon 

 quitting it for leaves of almost any kind. Sowthistle, 

 dandelion, and lettuce are their favourite vegetables, 

 especially the last. I discovered by accident that 

 fine white sand is in great estimation with them ; I 

 suppose as a digestive. It happened that I was 

 cleaning a bird-cage when the hares were with me ; 

 I placed a pot filled with such sand upon the floor, 

 which, being at once directed to by strong instinct, they 

 devoured voraciously ; since that time I have generally 

 taken care to see them well supplied with it. They 

 account green corn a delicacy, both blade and stalk, 

 but the ear they seldom eat ; straw of any kind, 



