Practical Game-Preserving. 270 



ubiquitous as is the rabbit, for although the latter may be 

 more numerous throughout the country, it is not more 

 general than the hare, which will thrive and multiply any- 

 where, so that it be afforded a due measure of protection 

 from man, beast, or bird of predaceous habit. True it is 

 that in some districts hares are apt to become extremely 

 scarce for spaces of time more or less prolonged, but this 

 is oftener the fault of the owners and tenants of the 

 land than due to mere unsuitability of soil and locality. 

 In its choice of habitat L. timidus is very curious, evincing 

 as much fancy for some particular spot as aversion to 

 others, and this, with its peculiar habits in regard to 

 leaving and returning to its form, renders it very easily 

 poached and very exposed to vermin attacks, although 

 its inherent timidity and powers of scent, sight, and 

 hearing somewhat counterbalance this defect. 



The hare is a far more prolific animal than is generally 

 supposed, but as its productiveness is generally compared 

 with the superabundant fecundity of the rabbit, this trait 

 is often overlooked; but a consideration of the time 

 occupied in producing successive litters soon shows that it 

 is an error to suppose it wanting in prolificacy. Breeding 

 is carried on more or less during the whole year, according 

 to the nature of the locality and the season. Thus moor- 

 land hares are less prolific than those inhabiting richly- 

 cultivated districts, and from two to three months during 

 the winter season breeding entirely ceases. Common Hares, 

 on the other hand, only cease breeding if the weather 

 prove severe for the few weeks before and after Christ- 

 mas, and this fact has, I believe, more to do with scarcity 

 of food than the coldness of the weather. 



Hares do not pair in the full sense of the word. The 

 does submit themselves to the rivalry of the bucks, but 

 one buck soon establishes himself as the master for one 



