THE HARE AND ITS ENEMIES 
the mouth of an old skunk’s or woodchuck’s hole or within 
a hollow stump, to seek protection from the “cauld blast.” 
The “jacks” of the Plains are so well furred that even the 
soles of their feet are warm mats of hair; and they are the 
only small animals able to survive outside of burrows the in- 
tense winter cold and 
gales of those bleak up- 
lands. This hardihood is 
due primarily, of course, |. 
to the fact that hares |‘ 
are able to find nutritious 
forage all through the | 
winter, and so keep up 
their bodily heat. 
All species have great 
speed, —their principal 
means of safety,—and / 
the swiftest hounds are 
hardly able to run them 
down; while they also 
have astonishing skill in |): 
suddenly halting and turn- | ~ 
5 ee aay Cane 
which they gain a fresh ; 
start before their more clumsy pursuers can perceive what has 
happened, and change their course. Chasing them with grey- 
hounds is a regular sport called “coursing.” Along with this goes 
extreme timidity and watchfulness, in which their big ears serve 
a most useful purpose, rising to the slightest sound, but dropping 
out of the way as the animal makes off in a series of tremendous 
leaps; and the hare can make faster time uphill than down, ow- 
ing to the greater length of the hind legs—a decided advantage. 
Knowing these tricks, most of its enemies resort to counter- 
strategy, —a stealthy approach and quick rush; and an 
4II 
