SCENT AND TEMPERATURE 243 



make their points whether up- wind or down. In the 

 event of their being hard-pressed when running up- 

 wind, they will very probably turn from distress, and 

 finding the hounds not pursuing them with equal 

 vigour, they will often continue the latter course for 

 some distance, and very often recovering their 

 strength, will again endeavour to make their first 

 point. There is no rule under such circumstances. 



When we fairly consider all the events by which scent 

 is effected, it cannot be a matter of surprise that it 

 should vary so materially. It is possible that they may 

 all combine to render it good or bad, or partially so, as 

 certain influences prevail. The density of the atmos- 

 phere may be ascertained by consulting the barometer; 

 that being on the ascendant is a favourable indication ; 

 when falling, the reverse; but then we are unable to 

 foresee to what extent it may affect the evaporation or 

 absorption on particular descriptions of land. More- 

 over, we cannot tell what line of country a fox may 

 think fit to select, whether his course will be up-wind 

 or down, or whether he be one of those animals which 

 carry a strong perfume about them. 



Equality of temperature is an event which very 

 materially affects the scent; if the weather throughout 

 the hunting season be invariably changing, first-rate 

 sport cannot be obtained. By some old memorandums 

 I find the season of 1830 and 1831 was very wet, and 

 afforded an average amount of sport ; the succeeding one 

 was rough in the extreme, much rain fell at the com- 

 mencement, followed by snow, which continued till late 

 in the spring; the sport of that winter was wretched. 

 In the year of 1833 and 1834 it was remarkably mild 

 and open, with little frost till February and March, and 

 from the succession of rains it was a severe time for 

 the horses. The following winter was very changeable ; 

 it was dry at the beginning, sharp frosts set in about 

 Christmas ; and we had much sleet, snow, and rain in 

 March. Sport was uncertain, some packs had their 

 share, others none at all. In 1835 and 1886 the scent 



