Quadrupeds. 211 



sheath. And othly. From the peculiar formation of the trunk of the 

 Plumularia myriophyllum. R. Q. Couch. 



Polperro, April 24, 1843. 



Anecdote of a Combat betwixt two Hares, 

 By Charles Waterton, Esq. 



" At last the two stout hares did meet 

 Like quarry of great might, 

 Like lions moved, they laid on load, 



And made a cruel fight." — Chevy Chase. 



On Easter Sunday, in the afternoon, as I was proceeding with my 

 brother-in-law, Mr. Carr, to look at a wild-duck's nest in an adjacent 

 wood, we saw two hares fighting with inconceivable fury on the open 

 ground, about a hundred and fifty yards distant from us. They stood 

 on their hinder legs like two bull-dogs resolutely bent on destruction. 



Having watched them for about a quarter of an hour, we then enter- 

 ed the wood ; — I observing to Mr. Carr that we should find them en- 

 gaged on our return. 



We staid in the wood some ten minutes, and on leaving it, we saw 

 the hares still in desperate battle. They had moved along the hill- 

 side, and the grass was strongly marked with their down for a space 

 of twenty yards. 



At last, one of the sylvan warriors fell on its side, and never got 

 upon its legs again. Its antagonist then retreated for a yard or so, — 

 stood still for a minute, as if in contemplation, and then rushed venge- 

 fully on the fallen foe. This retreat and advance was performed ma- 

 ny times; — the conqueror striking its prostrate adversary with its fore 

 feet, and clearing off' great quantities of down with them. 



In the mean time, the vanquished hare rolled over and over again, 

 but could not recover the use of its legs, although it made several at- 

 tempts to do so. Its movements put you in mind of a drunken man 

 trying to get up from the floor, after a hard night in the ale-house. 



It now lay still on the ground, effectually subdued; whilst the other 

 continued its attacks upon it, with the fury of a little demon. Seeing 

 that the fight was over, we approached the scene of action, — the con- 

 queror hare retiring as we drew near. 



I took up the fallen combatant just as it was breathing its last. 

 Both its sides had been completely bared of fur, and large patches of 

 down had been torn from its back and belly. It was a well-condi- 



p2 



