HUNTING ON THE FELLS 97 



The nature of the soil, being permanent, has 

 much to do with scent. I am incHned to think 

 that poor land carries a better scent than good 

 land, while heather and moorland are more 

 conducive to it than cold grass fields. 



I know a district, all grass and moorland, in a 

 limestone country, where scent lies very well 

 indeed, except actually on the bare limestone. 

 On the extensive outcrops of this land of stone 

 hounds are generally brought to their noses, unless 

 the limestone is damp with rain. 



A white frost is often bad for scent, and almost 

 always so if the sun gets out at all warm. In the 

 afternoon, should the ground harden again, hounds 

 may be able to run quite well. I have noticed 

 that towards evening, under varied conditions of 

 weather, scent is often better than earlier in the 

 day. Snow, if damp, and not too deep, often 

 carries a good scent. In deep, soft snow, hounds 

 can soon account for their fox if they get away 

 close to him, as their greater length of leg gives 

 them the advantage in such " going." 



When all is said and done, there appears to be 

 no absolute rule to go by regarding scent. The 

 " dark " day previously mentioned comes pretty 

 near to it, however, and I always expect good 

 scenting conditions on such a day. 



Seeing that the true charm of all field sport is 

 its " glorious uncertainty," it is perhaps just as 



H 



