Page:The Hare.djvu/43

Rh own impression is that the jack hare consorts to a certain extent with his female partner or partners, and that he takes some interest in the welfare of the leverets which have derived their existence from his erotic propensities.

This view receives a certain amount of independent corroboration from another source. 'On September 2 last,' writes Mr. Thomas Wolferstan, 'my brother and I were shooting in North Cornwall, and were trying a large uncultivated close, of between twenty and thirty acres in size, in search of some birds, which we had just before flushed. I was at a distance of some 200 or 250 yards from my brother, when he picked out a hare, and let it go away, apparently unhurt. The hare made for the only gateway, which was some 100 yards from me, and the whole length of the close from the hare, but in a different direction. I ran towards the gate, and got within fifty yards of the hare when it was nearing the gateway. I shot at it, but without effect, and the hare ran nearly to the gateway, then turning sharp round faced me and came right back, making for the hedge behind me, where, however, I could see no place for it to break. As it passed me I fired my second barrel and killed it. My brother and I were both at a loss to know what had caused the hare to turn and face the gun