THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
the term “ ground game,” it will be well to consider in what ways hares 
are affected by statutes which were passed prior to 1880 and which are 
still in force. 
THE HARES ACT, 1848 
11 & 12 Viet., c. 29 
This is intituled “ an Act to enable persons having a right to kill hares 
in England and Wales to do so by themselves, or by persons authorized by 
them, without being required to take out a game certificate,” the object 
being to enable farmers to protect themselves from damage done to their 
crops by hares. It accordingly makes it lawful for any occupier of inclosed 
lands, or any owner having the right to kill game thereon, to kill any hare 
upon such lands without a game licence.* It also authorizes (section 4) 
the coursing of hares with greyhounds and hunting them with beagles 
or harriers without having a game licence. Provided always that no owner 
or occupier of land shall give authority to more than one person at a time 
to kill hares upon his land within any one parish, and shall deliver such 
authority, or a copy of it, to the clerk of the magistrates acting for the 
petty sessions division within which the lands are situate, who shall 
forthwith register the same with the date of registration in a book to be 
kept for the purpose. 
Section 6, however, expressly provides that an authority to kill hares 
shall not extend to any tenant who is already bound by the terms of his 
agreement not to kill ” game ” on the land in his occupation. 
THE HARES (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1848 
11 & 12 Viet., c. 30 
In Scotland, as in England, neither a landlord, nor a tenant who is 
entitled to the game, can use a dog or gun to take game or rabbits (with 
some exceptions) without first obtaining a game licence, under the Game 
Licences Act, 1860. 
Section 1 of the Act now under notice enables anyone having a right to 
kill hares in Scotland, either by himself or by any person authorized by 
him in writing, without a game licence, provided that the hares are found 
and killed on his own land; and that no one authorized by him as afore - 
*It has already been noted (Vol. I, p. 428) that the word “licence" was substituted for “certificate” by the 
Game Licences Act, 1860. 
328 
