HUNTING ON THE FELLS 93 



hounds run a fox to such places as Whitbarrow, 

 where, unless the atmosphere is very damp, they 

 often experience considerable difficulty in sticking 

 to the line. *' There's nowt sae queer as scent," and 

 though we sometimes think we know a good deal 

 about it, there generally comes a time when all our 

 prophecies prove wrong. Now and then in the 

 fell country there comes a day when the atmo- 

 sphere is very clear, and there is an absence of wind. 

 Overhead the clouds look heavy, and the day may 

 be described as " dark." The colour of the distant 

 hills tones oS from indigo to mauve ; but for all 

 the general effect of darkness, every stone and 

 crag show up distinctly. On such a day I have 

 often known a screaming scent, while hounds 

 could be both easily seen and heard. 



Jorrocks, wise old bird, said, " Take not out 

 your 'ounds upon a werry windy day," and his 

 advice is good, but for all that I have seen hounds 

 run like mad in a gale, screaming along yards 

 wide of the line, the scent drifting with the 

 wind. 



There are, of course, several factors that have 

 an influence on scent. There is the fox himself, 

 the nature of the soil (clay, gravel, etc.), the con- 

 dition of the surface, such as grass, plough, moor- 

 land or woodland ; the temporary state of the 

 surface, wet, dry, dusty, etc. ; and the state of the 

 weather. 



