Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-07-31
rAME HAREs GREW FIERCE.
How an EnEiishman Made Friends
of the Animals and Taught
Them Old Tricks.

81 In August last keeper brought me
two leveretS only just able 70 feed
themselves. They had been captured
in field of long clover, their mother
being with them at the time, says a
writer in London Field. / put them
into a low, wide tin bath, wired all
round and over the top. They were
at first terrified and sat huddled to-
gether for the remainder of the Jay
and night, refusing food of any sort.
In the early hours of the morning l
succeeded in feeding them with some
warm milk-and again later-till, by
degrees, they began to nibble clover.
tanned them by slow stages till
they would eat from my hand and let
me nurse them. But as their fear of
me gradually diminished I was amazed
to find how forcibly and persistently
they were prepared to resent inter
ference. Phey few at me, bit and
scratched me, making most peculiar
Kissing sound. and so ferocious and
hurtful were their attacks that I was
forced to defend myself with pair of
thick gloves. 80
Then followed a series of boxing
matches, the assaults upon me fire.
quently lasting several minutes, with
periodical rests, when they would re-
treat to a corner. regain their wind
and attack me again more sayagely
than before. When completely beat
en- they would let me stroke them and
lick my hand as usual, and be friends
again.
One Of these hares Is now a most
engaging animal, knows me perfectly
and will jump up on my knee. climb up
and kiss me when told, sit up and beg.
jump through hoop and shake hands.
always giving the right paw. 1t will
also seek its food when hide It, and
does all In its power to show its afrec-
tion for me. It lives In the house, Is
loose all day and thoroughly enjoys
a good roll on the rug. where it fire.
quently lies stretched at full length
before the FIRE. 1t also plays with two
retriever dogs. of whom 1t has no fear
whatever, and often lies between them
while asleep.
In the early part of last December
received two full-grown wild hares
from Norfolk, and I was anxious to
discover II It were possible to tame and
train them. They sulked fora week,
eating little, but kept them near me
and by degrees tanned them. teaching
them to feed from my hand. come to
me when called and sit quietly on my
shoulder while carried them about.
Then. ~ with the others. when all
fear of me had left them. the real
trouble commsneed; they few at me,
hitting and scra tehing, and making that
grunting and ''bissing" sound already
mentioned. Very slowly. almost de-
spairingly so, we made friends. but,
unfortunately. this friendship is not
extended to others. who are treated
with seant courtesy II they interfere
with them. They know me very we'll.
and viii sniff my hand or my clothes
most noticeably before allowing them
selves to be touched. They possess
keen intelligence, rare cunning and
logged determination that have not
seen equaled in any other animal
They have a peculiar method of indi-
eating irritation or fear, unlike rab-
bits. which stamp their bind feet In a
similar psedAoameat, they make loud
rasping or grating sound with their
teeth, which Is instantly received by
the others as signal Of alarm.