THE ALPINE OR WHITE HARE. 159 



hold out his blue-bonnet in his right or left hand, to point 

 out on which side of me the rock lay ; but if it was directly 

 below me, to place his bonnet on the ground. In a calm 

 day, I have sometimes taken off my shoes, to prevent the 

 hare from hearing my steps, and very seldom failed to 

 shoot her. This miniature stalking is within the reach of 

 many grouse-shooters ; and, by trying their skill at it 

 when the birds grow wild, they may find out whether they 

 have any turn either for wild-fowl or deer-stalking. 



When one of these hares is pursued by a colley or terrier, 

 she will run round and round the hill, on her own track, 

 trying to confound the scent, and, as a last resource, scuttle 

 along a watercourse, if there is one near. 



The alpine hare is a good deal less than the common 

 shorter, and stouter made for its size ; and its legs stronger, 

 for climbing in rocky places. Its colour in summer is a blue 

 fawn ; and in winter the tips of the ears, which are much 

 shorter than those of the common species, are jet-black. 



ALPINE COMMON 



