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26 CHAPTER II

PAGES OF HARE LORE

the first few weeks of their existence leverets follow their female parent. Under her careful tutelage they soon learn to crop their favourite clover and to ramble in search of fields of growing carrots. But the love of independence is common to leverets as to most other young creatures. In fact, no sooner do the little fellows find that they can trust to their own powers of wind and limb, than they shake off parental restraint, and roam through the hayfields in search of young loves and fresh adventures. Eventually every individual becomes an anchorite. She makes her form in a snug and quiet corner; to it she returns repeatedly, until tired of its monotony. Life is easy and pleasant during the summer months. At first she browses upon sweet clover and tender shoots of herbage. As the corn springs up in the fields, the hare repairs to the standing oats; nor does she hesitate to risk the safety of her neck in following the