326 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



THEIR FLESH. 



The flesh of the, American Hare, when cooked, is dark and 

 gamy, and if it were not for their great abundance, would be 

 highly esteemed as a delicacy for the table ; but as long as they 

 can be purchased in our markets at twelve and a half cents 

 a piece, the public will not think a great deal of them. 



The Ilare is not in condition for the table until after several 

 severe frosts, when the meat will be found clean, delicate, juicy, 

 and tender, provided it is cooked in right style, and with the 

 proper condiments. In the Summer season, Hares are* not lit 

 for the table at all ; their flesh at this time is tough and stringy, 

 and, moreover, their bodies, more particularly about the head 

 and upper part of the neck, are infested with a species of oestrus, 

 that lays its eggs in its skin, and which, when hatched, grow 

 sometimes to an enormous size before leaving their nest ; we 

 have found them buried in the very flesh of the neck, as much 

 as an inch long, and as large as the point of the little finger. 

 Their presence must worry and torment the poor animal much, 

 as we have always found those with these worms in them very 

 lean, and to all appearance weak and sickly. We have shot 

 them as late as November with these worms in them, but they 

 generally fall out much earlier than this. 



