198 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



they find themselves pursued by scent, generally 

 run down wind ; and the same thing has been 

 asserted to me by others : this, if true, for I confess 

 I have my doubts, is an extraordinary instance of 

 sagacity, as their natural instinct leads them to 

 the opposite direction, it being a most difficult 

 thine for men alone to drive them down wind.' 



Upon this interesting question, I subjoin an 

 extract from the work so often quoted by me, — 

 'The Art of Venerie.' I do so because most of 

 the views expressed by the author are well worthy 

 of attention, though my own experience certainly 

 does not bear out the statements made by him 

 on this subject : — ' And here I thinke it not amysse 

 to advertise you, that an harte dreadeth the northerne 

 windes, and the southerne windes much more than 

 he doth the easterly or westerly windes, in such 

 sorte that if at his breakyng out of a covert, when 

 he seeketh to break from the houndes end-waies 

 over the champaigne, he feele either a north winde 

 or a south winde blow, he will never runne into it, 

 but turnes his backe and takes it in his tayle, and 

 this he dothe for divers respects. The first is 

 bycause the northe winde is colde and sharpe, 

 and drieth exceedingly, and the southe winde is 

 hote and corrupt, bycause it commeth under the 



