44 
British Deer and 
their Horns 
Then, how does a hare swim ? a rabbit, a squirrel, or a stoat ? One hot day in 
August 1894, while lazily smoking my pipe in the beautiful Stobhall woods that overlook 
the famous stretch of the Tay, Mr. James Pullar had kindly given me a day on his water, 
and that “ pipe of peace ” (or piece of pipe, for it was but a remnant of its former self) seemed 
specially sweet after lunch, for I had caught a splendid clean-run fish of 36 lbs. and two grilse 
that very morning in Eels Brig stream. And now a hare, running down the opposite bank 
of the river on Taymount property, attracted my attention, and I watched him with keen 
VARIOUS BRITISH ANIMALS SWIMMING, AND THEIR POSITIONS IN THE WATER 
interest, for, continuing his easy canter to the edge of the river, he plunged in without a 
moment’s halt and made straight for the middle of the stream. I had never before seen a 
hare voluntarily take to a big sheet of water, and in this case the stream was both heavy and 
rapid. Until half-way across he was apparently going strong and well, but on encountering 
the full force of the current he seemed to lose heart, and suddenly turned back. Landing 
again about 30 yards below the starting-point, he cantered along the stones nearly 50 yards 
farther up the river and again launched himself in the rough water. This time he was borne 
down rapidly, although straining every nerve to avoid this, and again (when he could most 
firste, and the thyrde upon the backe of the second, and consequently al the reste do in like manner, to the end that the one may 
relieve the other, and when the first is wearie another taketh his place.” 
