240 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



sive, the scent will be affected in the ratio of either 

 principle prevailing. In healthy districts, although the 

 land is generally of a light sandy nature, the scent is 

 usually good, most probably because the foxes touching 

 the heath leave particles of their perfume on the 

 sprays. The same cause exists in coverts where there 

 is much foggy grass ; but just after the leaves have 

 fallen in woodlands the scent generally fails, as I take 

 it, in consequence of the leaves checking the process of 

 evaporation. Some persons attribute this to the wind 

 blowing the leaves about and consequently shifting 

 them ; but how can that be the case where there is little 

 or no wind stirring ? 



There is no doubt a great distinction in the degrees 

 of scent emitted by different foxes, and also by the 

 same foxes under certain influences and various 

 circumstances. The bodily health of the animal will 

 occasion this. When the fox ig in a state of exhaustion, 

 or, as the term is known to sportsmen, when he is 

 sinking, the scent usually fails. The same is observable 

 with vixens when heavy in cub, at which time I ap- 

 prehend the quality, if not also the quantity, of scent 

 is altered. The pace at which foxes are moving, I 

 make no doubt, affects the scent materially; for when 

 they are just creeping along, as they often do, in covert 

 out of sight, hounds will sometimes actually run over 

 them. 



Somerville notices what I conceive to be one of the 

 elements by which a good or bad scent is regulated — ■ 

 namely evaporation, but takes no notice of absorption ; 

 he expresses himself very eloquently on the manner in 

 which the scent is emitted from the fox, and as I can- 

 not find language equally appropriate, I shall quote his 

 words : — 



" The blood that from the heart incessant rolls 

 In many a crimson tide, then liere and there 

 In smaller rills disparted, as it flows 

 Propell'd, the serous particles evade 



