SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTIXG. 197 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



"Tims on the air 

 Depends the hunter's hope. When ruddy streaks 

 At eve forbode a blust'ring stormy day, 

 Of low'ring clouds, blacken the mountain's brow, 

 When nipping frosts and keen biting blasts 

 Of the dry parching east menace the trees 

 With tender blossoms teeming, kindly spare 

 Thy sleeping pack, in their warm beds of straw 

 Low sinking at their ease. — Somerville. 



Uncertainty of scent — Atmospherical changes — The Coplow run — 

 Much dust— Foxes in a quiescent state — Drawing up wind — 

 Making out the day — Let well alone — Etiquette between masters 

 of foxhounds — " Noli me tangere " — Catch him if you can. 



Of all the uncertainties in this uncertain world, 

 there is none greater than that of scent, which 

 seems governed by no general rule, setting at nought 

 the conjectures and speculations of the oldest and 

 most experienced sportsman. There is no state of 

 atmosphere upon which we can confidently depend 

 for a good scenting day, and no state of ground. 

 "A southerly wind and cloudy sky'' may pi'oclaim 

 it a hunting morning, yet these prognostications 

 are rarely verified. We might naturally think 

 that a keen cutting east wind would certainly cut 

 off all communication between fox and hound, by 

 driving away and dissipating every particle of efflu- 

 vium escaping from the animal's body in his quick 

 transit over a hard and parched ground ; but we 



