234 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



ten minutes, will have little doubt of a scent from a 

 body which has never been nearer in contact with the 

 earth upon which they tread, than the bottom of the 

 vehicle ; and I should be sorry to find myself in the 

 skin of a fox, which might be conveyed in a wheel- 

 barrow over a country, if a good pack of hounds had to 

 make the most of any scent they might find uncon- 

 nected with the touch. It is very commonly, and justly, 

 remarked, that when all the field (and probably the 

 horses themselves also) are sensible of the smell of a 

 fox, little scent can be expected for hounds ; the fact is, 

 that there is then not sufficient weight of atmosphere to 

 condense the volatile particles exuded from his body; 

 instead of remaining motionless, they are too quickly 

 refined, and soar aloft. If all this be not absolutely 

 logical proof that the scent borne upon the breezes 

 does not owe its existence entirely and solely to '' the 

 touch, that is, the pad of the fox touching the ground," 

 it must, I think, go far to upset the theory of any one 

 who will maintain, that if the fox had touched nothing, 

 and could have been suspended in mid-air, he would 

 have left no other than visible signs of his identity. 

 But to come now to " the most convincing and satisfac- 

 tory proofs" on my side of the question: — Is it only 

 that eagerness of excitement, which will occasionally 

 elicit a whimper from young hounds ? — Is it the confident 

 anticipation of what is awaiting them on the other side 



