Monday 18 October 2004

ROAD KILL RESULTS

The hare road kill found by BBHPS members near Belfast when attending the
Irish Hare Conference in November 2003 has been identified as a brown hare.

Some features suggested the hare was an Irish hare and others a brown hare.
It could even have been a hybrid. Opinions differ as to whether the two
species can and do interbreed. A DNA sample will be taken and this will be
the first "Irish" brown hare DNA sample acquired by Queen's University,
Belfast.

The Irish hare Lepus timidus hibernicus is a sub-species of the mountain
hare Lepus timidus which inhabits the uplands of Wales, Scotland and the
Peak District of Derbyshire. Ice sheet melting around 10,000 years ago
resulted in two hare populations separated by the Irish Sea which have since
developed their own characteristics and are now distinguishable at
sub-species level.

The brown hare was introduced into Ireland for coursing during the 19th
century and small populations are known to exist in Co's Tyrone and Derry

"COWPER AND HIS HARES"

A Special Issue of "The Cowper and Newton Bulletin" published by The Cowper
and Newton Museum.

William Cowper (1731-1800) was the leading poet of his day and remained
influential well into the 19th century. Cowper was also renowned for his
ability to strike up close relationships with hares and of one he wrote:

"Puss grew presently familiar, would leap into my lap, raise himself upon
his hinder feet, and bite the hair from my temples. He would suffer me to
take him up and to carry him about in my arms, and has more than once fallen
asleep upon my knee."

This delightful collection of Cowpers poems, letters and prose is a must for
anyone with an interest in hares.

The price for "Cowper and His Hares" posted to an address in the UK is £2.00
and purchasers are asked to send a cheque for that amount.

The Museum's address is: The Cowper and Newton Museum, Orchard Side,
Market Place, OLNEY, Bucks. MK46 4AJ Please mark the outside of the
envelope F.A.O. George Davies, Trustee.

The Museum can also be contacted on 01234 711516
E-mail: cowperandnewtonmuseum@taipooshan.co.uk