Genre:

Reportage, Satire

Subjects:

Mental Illness, Animal Behaviour, Hunting, Class, Politics, Government

    Reports that the decision of William B Baring (2nd Baron Ashburton) to take hares out of the game class has caused an unusual prevalence of madness among the species. Identifies hares with aristocrats insofar as both have enjoyed the privileges of legal protection. Reports that the 'lunatic hares' foresee the abolition of protection for partridges and other animals hunted by the aristocracy—moves which the hares believe will destroy the aristocracy, the established church, and the monarchy. Concludes by noting that hares are trying to rally support from 'all other descriptions of game' to 'invoke the British Lion'.