“An eye-witness, on whom I can depend, gave me a curious account of
the tactics of a hill-hare, which completely baffled the tyrant of the
rocks. Puss, as is her wont when chased by an eagle, sheltered herself
under a stone. The eagle took post at a little distance, and watched
long, exactly like a cat waiting for a mouse. Although her fierce foe
was out of sight, the hare seemed to have a _mesmeric_ knowledge of
his vicinity, for she never would move so far from her hiding-place as
to be taken by surprise. Several times she came out to feed, but the
moment the eagle rose she was safe again. At last her pursuer got
tired, and flew away. The white hare has always a refuge of this kind
where eagles haunt.”
We may add that the Alpine hare is now most abundant in some districts
of Perthshire, and that it is easily shot, by the sportsman taking post
at the outlet of one of the large enclosures of hill pasture, while the
ground within is beat. This, of course, is inglorious shooting; but
fellows who are not up to the ready use of firearms like it; and we
should be inclined to bet that even Mr John Bright would, once out of
twenty-five trials, contrive to hit a hare. We shall not rashly
predicate the like of his friend Mr Welford, unless the hares were taken
sitting; and, even in that case, we have great doubts whether the
arch-enemy and would-be extirpator of game would succeed; for we have an
idea that he entertains a vague notion that the recoil of a
fowling-piece is something absolutely terrific.
By the way, what has become of Welford? It is now several years since we
had occasion to notice his work on the game-laws with marked amenity;
but, since then, we have lost sight of that Pleiad. Is it possible that
he can have been converted to our views, in consequence of his having
been graciously permitted by the member for the West Riding to sport
over his extensive estates? We hope so, and do not despair to see him
ere long upon the mountains with a philabeg girt round his loins. Having
begun such a crusade against the _feræ naturæ_, he ought to consummate
it with his own hand. Theseus was supposed to have rid the Peloponnesus
of ravening beasts—why should not Welford exterminate the objects of his
wrath, and put an end to the ornithology of Great Britain?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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