THE BROWN HARE. 203 



truly mad in March, and during that month many 

 a stern battle takes place between the gentlemen 

 who, unfortunately, fall in love with the same 

 lady, which appears to be the common order of 

 things. Neither are the contests worked out on 

 Marquis of Queensberry rules, the chief ambition 

 of every gentleman hare in March being to kick 

 every other gentleman hare into insensibility. 

 The one who can jump highest and kick hardest 

 wins the fair lady, and it is a laughable sight to 

 see two hares indulging in one of these sky- 

 hopping contests. Taking a run at each other, 

 they collide in mid-air, striking furiously, each 

 trying to kick the other over the wall and into 

 the next field. I have seen two hares, startled 

 by a common foe, make off side by side, and 

 simultaneously take one of these running jumps 

 at each other ere going fifty yards, to come to 

 earth and repeat the performance time and again 

 till finally out of sight. Also, a male hare, on 

 seeing a rival, will stand straight up on his hind- 

 legs, appearing of enormous size, and utter such 

 a scream of rage that the other hare will bolt 

 rather than remain to fight this veritable elephant 

 among hares I 



BREEDING. 



The Mad Moon lasts generally into the second 

 week of April,* and at about this time the first 

 leverets of the season come into the world. Hares 

 continue to breed till September, and at least three 

 litters are produced annually. Curiously enough, 



* In Scotland and in the Pennines hares may be seen in pairs, or even 

 in groups, during the dusk of the evening, till well on in the month of 

 May, or even later in very high country. Much depends on the weather 

 conditions. H. M. B. 



