TO-DAY’S NATURE NOTE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 90, 10 January 1935, Page 8

TO-DAY’S NATURE NOTE

Hares’ Fight to the Death At one time hares used to be very plentiful in the southern part of Hawke's Bay, and riding over the country I used to notice frequently dead hares and also often came on their battle grounds with quantities of fur strewn about. On one occasion when crossing a ridge I noticed on a flat piece of land two hares in full battle. Keeping perfectly still, I saw them fight to the finish. The fight, which lasted for at least ten minutes, was fought cn definite rules: The combatants would meet together and, using their hind feet and teeth, would bite and scratch until they were both exhausted. Then they would retire to a distance of about four feet front eacli other, and sit panting for a minute until, by mutual consent, they would set to again. On the commencement of the seventh round, one hare, losing heart, turned tail and fled, witli Hie other in hot pursuit. Every few yards the latter would put on a spurt, and, catching up Io the other.'would take a mouthful pf fur !>eforo the first Imre could go any faster. Eventually, both hares were too exhausted to run any farther, and the last I saw of them was a fluff of hair flying from the pursued.— Miss M. Smith (Johnsonville). ;iiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiit:iim!iitiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiimifflriin