The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-05-03
TAME HARES GREW FIERCE.
HOW An ENGLISHMAN MADE
FRIENDS
With These Creatures aud Taught
Them Tricks.

In August last a keeper brought me
two leverets only just able to feed
themselves. They had been captured in
field of long clover. their mother be-
ing with them at the time. l put them
into a low, wide tin bath, wired all
round and over the top. They We're at
first terrified and sat huddled together
for the remainder of the day and night
refusing food of any sort. In the early
hours of the morning ! succeeded in
feeding them with some warm milk
and again later-t1ll, by degrees, they
began to nibble clover
tanned them by slow stages, till they
would eat fron my hand and let me
nurse them. But as their fear of me
gradually diminished | was amazed to
find how forcibly and persistently they
were prepared to resent interference.
They flew at me. bit and scratched me,
making most peculiar kissing sound,
and so ferocious and hurtful were their
attacks that | was forced to defend my
self with pair of thick gloves.
Then followed a series of boxing
mat ches, 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 savagely than
before. When completely beaten they
would let me shroke them and lick my
hand as usual, and be friends again.
One of these hares is now most en-
gaging animal, knows me perfectly and
will jump 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 I hide 1t and
does all in it's power to show its affect
ton for me. 1t lives in the house, is
loose all day and thoroughly enjoys a
good roll on the rug, where it frequently
lies stretched full length before the fire.
1t also plays with two retriever dogs, of
whom it has no fear whatever, and Of
ten hes bet ween them while asleep.
In the early part of last December
received two full grown wild hares
from Norfolk and l was anxious to dis
cover If it were possible to tame and
train them. They sulked for a week,
eating little, but I kept them near me
and by degrees tanned them, teaching
them to feed from my hand come to me
WuSL GdlltQ anu SIT quietly vi MY
Shoulder while I carried them about.
Then, as with the others, when all
fear of me had left them the real trou-
BILE commenced; they flew at me- biting
and scratching, and making that grunt-
ing and 'hissing' sound already men
toned Very slowly, almost despair
ingly so, we made friends but unfortu-
nate ely this friendship is not extended
to others, who are treated with scant
courtesy if they interfere with them.
They know me very WELL and will sniff |
my hand or my clothes most noticeably |
before allowing themselves to be |
touched. They possess keen intelli |
gence, rare cunning and logged de- |
termination that l have not seen
equaled in any other animal They !
have peculiar method of indicating ir- |
ritation or fear; unlike rabbits, which |
stamp their hind feet in a similar pre- |
dicament, they make loud rasping or |
grating sound with their teeth, which is
Instantly received by the others as
signal of alarm.-London Field.