Page:The Hare.djvu/50

28 they draw into the neighbourhood of stackyards and nibble at the haystacks. If any turnips have been left uncovered you are pretty sure to find in the morning that the hare has found them out, and taken sly advantage of its opportunity. More serious loss is caused in the wintertime by the hare's propensity for gnawing the bark of young trees.

The loss in nursery gardens, where valuable pines are grown, is often very considerable. One of the best methods of averting probable mischief that have been suggested is to place virgin cork round the stems of the young trees, taking care to secure it with wires in such a way that the attacks of hares and rabbits will be rendered ineffectual. These animals can fast for several days at a time without injury. They are usually in the very finest condition at the beginning of winter, so that they can afford to undergo some waste of adipose tissue without experiencing serious suffering. If a heavy fall of snow happens to sweep across the country, the hare often submits to be buried where it lies, right out in the open field. Only a tiny hole in the snow is kept open by the warm breath of the animal. Its imprisonment may last five or six days without harm to the little quadruped; but the majority of hares seek shelter in the woods and spinneys during periods of specially protracted frost. They