Page:The Hare.djvu/28

8 brown hare has long been plentiful on the mainland of Scotland. Many parts of Northern Britain are covered with waste moorlands, too sterile and barren to afford a happy home to the bonny brown hare, which has no taste for dry lichens and plain Highland fare, but prefers to munch sweet clover in the fattest pastures of the low grounds. It was not indigenous to any of the Hebrides, nor probably to the Orkneys or Shetlands. The first attempt to populate the Hebrides with brown hares was made by Lord Seaforth. About a hundred years ago that nobleman introduced some brown hares to the Lews. But his example was not followed by any of his neighbours. It was not until the middle of the present century that hares were introduced into Skye and other neighbouring islands. The actual result has fully justified the pains bestowed upon their introduction, and the species thrives admirably in sheltered situations. It is, therefore, quite certain that the climatic conditions prevailing on the West coast of Scotland are on the whole favourable to this animal. As regards Orkney, it would appear to be certain that the brown hare was long ago turned down upon the Island of Hoy—before, in fact, it had been carried to the Lews—but the first experiment does not seem to have met with the success that it merited. Messrs. Buckley