92 - THE REASON Will ! 



And, all -within, it full of wyndings is 



And bidden wayes, that scarce a hound by smell 



Can follow out those false footsteps of his'." SPENSER. 



290. Why do dogs of different breeds exhibit a peculiar faculty 

 for particular scents? 



Those peculiarities are dependent partly upon organisation and 

 upon training. The short thick nose of the beagle is adapted for a 

 ground-scent, while the longer nose of the setter is better adapted 

 for catching the impregnated air. 



In the breaking-in of dogs it is necessary to correct their falso 

 points at first ; they will stand at larks, blackbirds, thrushes, and, 

 indeed, at anything emitting an unusual odour. By discipline they 

 are taught to disregard all scents but those of their particular 

 game. The foxhound, well broken-in, will rarely challenge at the 

 scent of the hare, nor will he even change his fox. 



291. The scent of different animals possesses very various degrees of pungency 

 and distinctive qualities. Scents that are appreciable by some animals are im- 

 perceptible by others : thus the exhalations of the fox, badger, or pole-cat, are 

 obvious to man ; but those of the hare, rabbit, and winged game, to their enemies 

 only. The animal effluvia themselves differ, not only according to the variety of 

 the animal they escape from, but also as the exhalations of each animal vary with 

 circumstances. The hunted stag is never changed the hunted fox and the hunted 

 hare may be changed many times. " The Country Squire " on the same head 

 remarks : " It is to be remembered that there is no small accidental differ- 

 ence in the very particles of scent ; I mean, that they are stronger, sweeter, or 

 more distinguishable at one time than at another, and that this difference is found 

 not only in diverse, but often in the same individual creature, according to the 

 changes of the air or the soil, as well as of her own motions or conditions. That 

 there is a different scent in other animals of the same species is evident from 

 draught hounds, which were formerly made use of for tracking and pursuing 

 thieves and deer-stealers ; or rather from any common cur or spaniel, which will 

 hunt out their masters or their master's horse distinctly from all others ; and that 

 it is the same with the hare is no less visible with the old beag'es, which will not 

 readily change for a fresh one, unless she starts in view, or unless a fault happens 

 that puts them in confusion, and inclines them in despair to take up with the next 

 they can come by." Had the Country Squire been a stag-hunter also, he would 

 have noted this peculiarity of the scent of the hunted stag, which, as already ob- 

 served, is never lost, though scores of this kind are near. This veteran judiciously 

 remarks on the nature of scent, that many circumstances may change it ; according 

 to his opinion, it is at one time composed of very fine particles, and at another 

 of particles equally gross, and that this difference Is frequently occasioned by 

 Accidental circumstances. Thus, he says, the coursing of a cur dog, which 

 may follow the hare during the run, will ;ommonly produce a different effluvium 

 to the rest, and a fault is therefore almost always the consequence o/ tUis 



