XIX 



SCENT 



SOME THEORIES COMPARED FONDNESS OF HOUNDS FOR THE 



TRAIL HOUND MUSIC AND A NOVICE 



F all the vexed questions pertaining to the 

 chase of wild game, that of scent, "that 

 weary, incomprehensible, uncontrollable phe- 

 nomenon, consistent only in its inconsistency/' 

 as Jorocks puts it, is the most puzzling. I shall not 

 attempt to enter into a full discussion of this most interest- 

 ing problem, but content myself with stating a few well- 

 established facts, and leave the reader to work out the riddle 

 as best he can. It will be found a good subject to occupy 

 his mind during a long ride home. But I give him fair 

 warning that the hypothesis he sets up to-day to his entire 

 satisfaction is likely to fall like a card house at the very 

 next run or before the attack of some one who is further 

 along in the study. 



I believe, however, all theorists sooner or later come to 

 acknowledge that certain conditions of the atmosphere 

 seem to favour the lasting qualities of the scent, though in 

 some way that makes barometers or thermometers unsatis- 

 factory guides. The breaking of a frost, the evaporation 



