按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Whilst being hunted they are most visible in crossing ground that has
been turned up by the plough； if； that is； they have any trace of red about
them； or through stubble； owing to reflection。 So； too； they are visible
enough on beaten paths or roads； presuming these are fairly level； since
the bright hue of their coats lights up by contrast。 On the other hand； they
are not noticeable when they seek the cover of rocks； hills； screes； or scrub；
owing to similarity of colour。 Getting a fair start of the hounds； they will
stop short； sit up and rise themselves up on their haunches；＇32＇ and listen
for any bark or other clamour of the hounds hard by； and when the sound
reaches them； off and away they go。 At times； too； without hearing； merely
fancying or persuading themselves that they hear the hounds； they will fall
to skipping backwards and forwards along the same trail；＇33＇
interchanging leaps； and interlacing lines of scent；＇34＇ and so make off
and away。
＇32＇ Cf。 the German 〃Mannerchen machen；〃 〃play the mannikin。〃
Shaks。 〃V。 and A。〃 697 foll。
＇33＇ Passage imitated by Arrian； xvi。 1。
＇34＇ Lit。 〃imprinting track upon track；〃 but it is better perhaps to
avoid the language of woodcraft at this point。
These animals will give the longest run when found upon the open；
there being nothing there to screen the view； the shortest run when started
out of thickets； where the very darkness is an obstacle。
There are two distinct kinds of harethe big kind； which is somewhat
dark in colour＇35＇ with a large white patch on the forehead； and the
smaller kind； which is yellow…brown with only a little white。 The tail of
the former kind is variegated in a circle； of the other； white at the side。＇36＇
25
… Page 26…
The Sportsman
The eyes of the large kind are slightly inclined to gray；＇37＇ of the smaller；
bluish。 The black about the tips of the ears is largely spread in the one； but
slightly in the other species。 Of these two species； the smaller is to be met
with in most of the islands； desert and inhabited alike。 As regards numbers
they are more abundant in the islands than on the mainland； the fact being
that in most of these there are no foxes to attack and carry off either the
grown animal or its young； nor yet eagles； whose habitat is on lofty
mountains rather than the lower type of hills which characterise the
islands。＇38＇ Again； sportsmen seldom visit the desert islands； and as to
those which are inhabited； the population is but thinly scattered and the
folk themselves not addicted to the chase； while in the case of the sacred
islands；＇39＇ the importation of dogs is not allowed。 If； then； we consider
what a small proportion of hares existent at the moment will be hunted
down and again the steady increase of the stock through reproduction； the
enormous numbers will not be surprising。＇40＇
＇35＇ ｛epiperknoi｝。 Cf。 Pollux； v。 67 foll。； 〃mottled with black。〃
Blane。
＇36＇ Reading ｛paraseiron｝； perhaps 〃mottled〃； vulg。 ｛paraseron｝。 Al。
｛parasuron｝； 〃ecourtee；〃 Gail。
＇37＇ ｛upokharopoi｝； 〃subfulvi；〃 Sturz； i。e。 〃inclined to tawny〃； al。
〃fairly lustrous。〃 Cf。 ｛ommata moi glaukas kharopotera pollon
'Athanas｝； Theocr。 xx。 25； but see Aristot。 〃H。 A。〃 i。 10； 〃Gen。 An。〃 v。
1。 20。
＇38＇ Lit。 〃and those on the islands are for the most part of low
altitude。〃
＇39＇ e。g。 Delos。 See Strab。 x。 456； Plut。 〃Mor。〃 290 B； and so Lagia；
Plin。 iv。 12。
＇40＇ Lit。 〃As the inhabitants hunt down but a few of them； these
constantly being added to by reproduction； there must needs be a
large number of them。〃
The hare has not a keen sight for many reasons。 To begin with； its eyes
are set too prominently on the skull； and the eyelids are clipped and
blear；＇41＇ and afford no protection to the pupils。＇42＇ Naturally the sight is
indistinct and purblind。＇43＇ Along with which； although asleep； for the
26
… Page 27…
The Sportsman
most part it does not enjoy visual repose。＇44＇ Again； its very fleetness of
foot contributes largely towards dim… sightedness。 It can only take a rapid
glance at things in passing； and then off before perceiving what the
particular object is。＇45＇
＇41＇ Or； 〃defective。〃
＇42＇ Al。 〃against the sun's rays。〃
＇43＇ Or； 〃dull and mal…concentrated。〃 See Pollux； v。 69。
＇44＇ i。e。 〃its eyes are not rested； because it sleeps with them open。〃
＇45＇ i。e。 〃it goes so quick； that before it can notice what the
particular object is； it must avert its gaze to the next； and then the
next； and so on。〃
The alarm； too； of those hounds for ever at its heels pursuing combines
with everything＇46＇ to rob the creature of all prescience； so that for this
reason alone it will run its head into a hundred dangers unawares； and fall
into the toils。 If it held on its course uphill；＇47＇ it would seldom meet with
such a fate； but now； through its propensity to circle round and its
attachment to the place where it was born and bred； it courts destruction。
Owing to its speed it is not often overtaken by the hounds by fair
hunting。＇48＇ When caught； it is the victim of a misfortune alien to its
physical nature。
＇46＇ ｛meta touton｝； sc。 〃with these other causes〃； al。 〃with the
dogs〃； i。e。 〃like a second nightmare pack。〃
＇47＇ Reading ｛orthion｝； or if ｛orthon｝； transl。 〃straight on。〃
＇48＇ ｛kata podas｝； i。e。 〃by running down〃； cf。 〃Mem。〃 II。 vi。 9；
〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 40； re two kinds of hound： the one for scent； the other
for speed。
The fact is； there is no other animal of equal size which is at all its
match in speed。 Witness the conformation of its body： the light； small
drooping head ＇narrow in front＇；＇49＇ the ＇thin cylindrical＇＇50＇ neck； not
stiff and of a moderate length； straight shoulder…blades； loosely slung
above； the fore…legs attached to them； light and set close together；＇51＇ the
undistended chest；＇52＇ the light symmetrical sides； the supple； well…
rounded loins； the fleshy buttocks； the somewhat sunken flanks；＇53＇ the
hips； well rounded； plump at every part； but with a proper interval above；
27
… Page 28…
The Sportsman
the long and solid thighs； on the outside tense and not too flabby on the
inside； the long； stout lower legs or shanks； the fore…feet； exceedingly
pliant； thin； and straight； the hind…feet firm and broad； front and hind alike
totally regardless of rough ground； the hind…legs far longer than the fore；
inclined outwards somewhat； the fur＇54＇ short and light。
＇49＇ Reading ｛katophere ＇stenen ek tou emprosthen＇｝。 See Lenz ad loc。
pp。 23； 24。 Pollux； v。 69。
＇50＇ Reading ｛＇lepton； periphere＇｝。
＇51＇ ｛sugkola｝； al。 〃compactly knit。〃
＇52＇ Lit。 ｛ou barutonon｝； 〃not deep sounding〃 = ｛ou sarkodes｝； Pollux；
ib。
＇53＇ Reading ｛lagonas ugras lagaras ikanos｝。
＇54＇ ｛trikhona｝； 〃the coat。〃
I say an animal so happily constructed must needs be strong and pliant；
the perfection of lightness and agility。 If proof of this lightness and agility
be needed； here is a fact in illustration。 When proceeding quietly； its
method of progression is by leaps； no one ever saw or is likely to see a
hare walking。 What it does is to place the hind…feet in front of the fore…feet
and outside them； and so to run； if running one can call it。 The action
prints itself plainly on snow。 The tail is not conducive to swiftness of pace；
being ill adapted by its stumpiness to act as a rudder to direct the body。
The animal has to do this by means of one or other ear；＇55＇ as may be seen；
when she is on the point of being caught by the hounds