nds may not grow too eager
and fail to discover the line. When found by the hounds, and the chase
has begun, the hare will at times cross streams, bend and double and
creep for shelter into clefts and crannied lurking-places; (30) since
they have not only the hounds to dread, but eagles also; and, so long as
they are yearlings, are apt to be carried off in the clutches of these
birds, in the act of crossing some slope or bare hillside. When they are
bigger they have the hounds after them to hunt them down and make away
with them. The fleetest-footed would appear to be those of the low
marsh lands. The vagabond kind (31) addicted to every sort of ground
are difficult to hunt, for they know the short cuts, running chiefly
up steeps or across flats, over inequalities unequally, and downhill
scarcely at all.

(29) Or, "shifts her ground."

(30) Or, "in their terror not of dogs only, but of eagles, since up to
a year old they are liable to be seized by these birds of prey
while crossing some bottom or bare ground, while if bigger..."

(31) {oi... planetai}, see Ael. op. cit. xiii. 14.

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;