The diet and landclass affinities of the Irish hare Lepus timidus hibernicus

The diet of the Irish hare Lepus timidus hibernicus was investigated in Nor thern Ireland. Faecal pellets were collected at regular intervals from thre e contrasting study sites and from a number of randomly selected sites from known land classes. Microhistological techniques were employed to analyse the pellets. Grass species occurred in high percentage frequencies in all s amples of faecal pellets and a wide variety of plant species were represent ed (up to 26 species in one study site). In a stratified, random survey of the presence of hares, areas of lowland intensive agriculture had fewer pos itive records than expected. It is contended that L. t. hibernicus may not be able to sustain viable populations in areas of intensive agriculture, wh ich are almost exclusively composed of ryegrass Lolium spp.