HORSES AND HOUNDS. 229 



bank. Yvlicn hounds run up wind, with heads up and sterns 

 down, the scent is said to be breast high, but it is more than 

 that, it is head high — that is, the particles of scent float over the 

 heads of the hounds as well. If not, how is it that the last 

 hound in the pack throws his tongue as eagerly as the first. 

 Were it only breast high, the bodies of the first few couples, 

 interposing between the scent and their companions, Avould 

 entirely absorb these floating particles, as the scent of their own 

 bodies must overcome the scent of the fox, and render it unin- 

 telligible or unattainable to those forming the rear rank. 



This may be seen in the conduct of hounds uyton a bad scent- 

 ing day, where there is only what we call a jj^i^'-^ scent ; that is, 

 a scent left chiefly by iliQfoot of the fox. There is then no merry 

 cry of hounds ; but the Solons of the pack alone, with slow and 

 solemn notes, proclaim the welcome news to their other mute 

 and less sage friends, that their game is forward. See how the 

 young and dashing spirits, ever foremost and fiercest in the fray 

 when a burning scent calls only for the exercise of limb and 

 tongue, now take their proper places in the rear, and wait for. 

 wiser and older heads to guide them. See with what eagerness 

 they press when some old warrior points out and notes the 

 failing track. Forward they fly, with burning zeal, to aid their 

 well-known leader ; but it avails not. Too intricate the web, 

 which wisdom and experience can alone unravel. I have seen 

 also (and I dare say many an old sportsman can bear me tes- 

 timony) hounds running hard up one side of a hedge, when the 

 fox had gone up the other. 



During a hard frost, when the day is not bright, there is also 

 a good scent ; but if the sun has much power, it is quickly dis- 

 persed. There are few sportsmen who have not seen hounds 

 running hard up the shady side of a hill, where the hoar frost 

 was lying, but when they had crossed to the sunny side there 

 has scarcely been any scent at all. It has also been generally 

 laid down as a rule, that when the earth is saturated with rain, 

 there is little prospect of a good scent ; but we have only to go 

 back to the season of 1852 and 1853 for evidence to confute 

 this opinion. Few, I should imagine, can recollect a more 

 thoroughly drenching time from October to Februarj^ ; and yet, 

 I will venture to say, no man can call to mind a better scenting 

 one. It was of little import in what quarter, the wind might be 

 — whether north, south, east, or west, — from all quarters alike 

 the rain descended in almost unceasing torrents. The quick- 

 silver also continued very low ; yet notwithstanding, througli- 

 out this deluge, in all countries alike — whether high or low, 

 rich or poor — the scent continued good invariably. But we 



