22 EEMIXISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAK". 



CHAP. III. 



DIITICULTY KESPECTING SCENT. — EEPEESHMEXT EECOMMENDED. 

 MOTJXTAIX PARTRIDGE. AXTEXIIOX TO FARMERS. 



" Exulting till he finds their nobler sense, 



Their disproportioned speed does recompense ; 

 Then cursing his conspiring feet, -whose scent 

 Betrays that safety which their swiftness lent." — Denham. 



The scent is a problem that the best and ablest 

 sportsman has never been able to solve, however long 

 he may have pursued field recreations. With a soft 

 Avind blowing from the south, a gentleman goes out with 

 his hounds or gun, in the expectation of a good run or 

 well-filled game bag, when to his surprise and great dis- 

 appointment the scent is found to be bad; at other 

 times when the wind is cold, and in an easterly quarter, 

 and a slight frost during the night, by eleven or twelve 

 o'clock, the scent being good, I have enjoyed a good run 

 with fox-hounds. There is another question on which 

 there has been much disputation amongst sportsmen, 

 whether game when under the strong excitement of 

 fear is able to withhold its scent. In the course of 

 my shooting campaigns I have witnessed some curious 



