210 
NATURE NOTES 
The Society seems to have done some good work during the year, especially in 
conjunction with the efforts of the late Mr. Laurence W. Pike to extend the 
Geneva Convention to veterinary surgeons and lessen the sufferings of horses 
in war. 
Report a 7 id Transactions of the Ealing Natin-al Science and Microscopical Society 
for 1 900- 1. 
This is the twenty-fourth annual report of this flourishing Society. The 
eleven papers read during the session were none of them on local subjects, and 
dealt with widely diverse topics, such as the solar eclipse, the moon, Rontgen 
rays, underground temperature, and a visit to South Africa, besides biological 
matter.s. They ate all printed in abstract in the Transactions ; and as they, 
very rightly, do not appear to embody any novel results of original research, this 
method of publication need give no trouble to the working naturalist, whilst as 
a memento for the members it is all that can be needed. 
Received : — The Victorian Naturalist for September; The Naturalist, The 
Natziralisf s Journal, The Irish Naturalist, Science Gossip, Humanity, Our 
Atnmal Friends, and The Agricultural Economist for October ; and I he Animal 
World for September and October. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Mad as a March Hare. — The funniest experience that I have ever had 
with animals occurred last evening. I have, when shooting amongst fern, had a 
rabbit bolt through my legs, but that is a small matter. Yesterday I had been 
fishing in the Rhone Valley, and meeting a friend by the river side, I went to his 
house at Aigle for a somewhat hasty supper. Walking quickly down hill to the 
railway station at a few minutes before 8 o’clock, the moon shining brightly and 
less than half full, I was passing along a road about fifteen feet wide, with walls 
on either side enclosing the most famous vineyards in the Canton de Vaud, and at 
about too yards from the open fields. I was holding my left hand pressed tightly 
against the front of my body, just below the ribs, to assist me. On the little 
finger were two gold rings and below my hand was a small gold watch-chain from 
which hung the much-admired badge, in silver and blue enamel, of the Selborne 
Society. These things probably glistened in the moonlight, which shone from my 
right half front. I was wearing grey cricket trousers of about the same colour as 
the walls and a light slate-coloured coat and waistcoat : hat almost the same. Pre- 
sently I became aware of an animal coming towards me, which in a second of 
time sprang up and struck me fairly on the left hand and centre of the body. I 
felt the soft fur, and as she fell back and ran dowm the road I recognised that it 
was a frightened hare that had executed this extraordinary manoeuvre. 
In the Fliegende Blatter (the German Punch) the hare is credited with doing 
all kinds of strange or wise things, and had one of the artists on the staff of that 
amusing journal been in my shoes last night no doubt we should have an interest- 
ing picture of what happened, and it would be explained that the hare, recognising in 
me a sympathetic person from my wearing our badge, wished to make my acquaint- 
ance in the way I have described. However, the real reason for what happened 
is to me a mystery, and I expect will long remain as such. I have no doubt some 
of your readers can tell of more extraordinary adventures. Had my right hand 
been disengaged — it was carrying my fishing-rod — I might, perhaps, have caught 
the hare. Giles A. Daubeny. 
Monlreux, 
September 20, 1 90 1. 
[Captain Daubeny’s experience recalls that of St. Anselm, but the hare, in that 
case, was being hunted and in broad daylight, while the Saint did not wear the 
badge of the Selborne Society — save in his heart. — Ed. N. Ni] 
