The hoohe of Hunting i5i 



be hereafter declared. A Bucke Hare wil abyde the hounds nea- 

 rer him when he fitteth, than the female will, bicaufe he feeleth 

 him felfe quicker, and his body better difpofcd and hardier. If 

 when a Hare ryfeth out of the forme, llie fet vp hir eares, and run 

 not verie faft at the firfte, and caft vp hir Skut vpon hir backe, 

 it is a token that it is an olde and craftie Hare. Although fome 

 lay that there is no iudgement of difference betweene the male 

 and the female Hares, yet haue 1 founde the contrarie. For the 

 male Hare or bucke maketh his croteys always fmaller and dryer, 

 and more Iharpned towards the end. The female maketh them 

 greater and rounder, and not fo dry. And the caufe is, that the fe- 

 male reheueth not lo farre out a nights, and is greater of bodye, 

 which caufeth hir to make the greater Croteys alfo. You flull 

 knowe a bucke as you hunt him to the forme : for you flial find y* 

 he hath more beaten the hard high wayes, and feedeth further out 

 into the playnes, and maketh his doublings and croffings much 

 wyder, and of greater compafle than the Rmale doth. For 

 file will keepe clofe by fome couerts fide, turning and winding 

 in the buflies like a Coney. And if flie goe to relicfe in the corne 

 fields, file wil not lightly croiTe ouer the furrowes, but foloweth 

 them al along, and ftayeth much vpon the thickeft tufts of corne 

 to feede : Neither is flie fatiffied by feeding hir bcllye full, but 

 flireds the corne, and fcattreth it as flie goeth. Likewife you may 

 knowe a Bucke at rifing out of the forme, for he hath his hinder 

 parts much more whitely, as if he were grey or downy : Or you 

 Hiall knowe him if you marke his flioulders well before he ryfe, 

 for they are redder than a female Hares be, and will haue fome 

 lofe long h aires growing on them. Againe, you may know him 

 by his heade, the which is fliorter and better truffed than the fe- 

 males is. The hairs about his lips and cheeks, are longer, and com- 

 monly his eares fliorter, greater, and more whitely. The female 

 hath a long and leane head, hir eares long, the haire vpon y« chine 

 of hir backe, blackifli greye. And commonly when hounds hunt 

 a female Hare, flie will vfe more crofl^mg, doubling, and turning 

 before them, paflTingfeuen or eight times one way,andneuer maketh 

 out endwayes before the hounds. The male doth contrary : for if 



the 



