Practical Game-Preserving. 280 



however, special means of protection must be accorded from 

 the attacks of vermin, which, if not relentlessly pursued, 

 will play sad havoc with the leverets, if even the old ones 

 escape. 



The poaching of hares goes on, unless prevented, both 

 by day and by night, by means of dogs lurchers, grey- 

 hounds, and speedy mongrels and the employment of nets, 

 long and short, according to the scene of the operations. 

 Snaring is also largely practised. The habits of the hare 

 are such as to render it a particularly easy victim to the 

 poacher, notably by night, and only incessant watching 

 will prevent serious losses in one direction or another. 

 The fields and pastures bordering on the high-roads, 

 cross-roads, and lanes are usually more favoured by 

 poachers than those lying away from them. Wherever 

 there is any considerable stock of hares all gates along 

 the roads and lanes should be properly fastened pad- 

 locked if possible and the hinges so furnished that the 

 gates cannot be opened from that side. Gaps ought to be 

 all well fitted with brushwood, strongly staked in, and 

 all other gateways and openings be well looked after. It 

 is in these quarters that most damage is likely to occur. 



It is, however, during heavy snow that hares chiefly 

 fall victims to such poachers as are acquainted with their 

 peculiar ways during weather of this kind. The hares lie 

 so closely in their forms that, except for a small breathing- 

 place, they are quickly enveloped, and so " squat " until, 

 at the end of about twenty-four hours, hunger drives them 

 forth, when, with no other apparent thought than the 

 satisfying of their craving, they throw caution to the winds, 

 and seeking out the nearest available food-supply in the 

 hedgerows, woods, or root-fields, are back again at the 

 earliest moment in their forms, an easy prey to the 

 poacher. 



