230 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



hounds get on a fallow, or ploughed ground, when they 

 will feel the scent for a few paces only, and it will 

 entirely go until they are held across the plough-Jield ; 

 and when they are again on turf, or somid ground, or 

 going through the fence, they will hit off the scent 

 immediately, as the foot is clean and touches the 

 ground, which is accounted for by the foxes' feet 

 gathering earth, as soon as they tread on the ploughed 

 ground, which, on being pressed, adheres to the bottom 

 of the feet (which is called carrying), consequently 

 prevents the feet from toiicJmig the ground, until this, 

 which forms a clog, and is stickitig to the feet, is worn 

 off by a few steps on the sound ground, after leaving the 

 ploughed land'' 



I have been compelled to quote the whole of this 

 long-winded sentence, pausing only at its first round 

 period, that I may not, according to a prevaihng fashion 

 of the day, by halving of the text, appear guilty of a 

 wilful perversion of its meaning. Having sifted it, and 

 measured it by inches, feet, and paces, 



" Till one, with moderate haste, might count an hundred," 



the only inference at which the limited powers of my 

 comprehension have been enabled to arrive, is this — that 

 it is a sentence of excommunication — a total ejection of 

 the body of the fox from communion with the air. But 

 how is this supported ? We are reminded of the fact. 



