234 HOESES AND HOrXDS. 



All professionals are aware that tlie scent of tlie liiinted fox 

 is inferior to that of one fresh found ; and this may arise from 

 one of two causes, or both — slowness of movement, or exhaus- 

 tion of the bodily exhalations. This is only or chiefly per- 

 ceptible when a fox, which has been hard pressed for some 

 time, has been enabled by a sudden check, or other to him 

 favourable circumstances, to slacken his pace, and loiter before 

 the hounds. When running into w^oodlancls, after a severe 

 chase over the open, I have repeatedly witnessed this change of 

 scent with our hunted fox ; by running short, lying down, and 

 hunting the hounds, he is enabled to throw them off the line, 

 and husband his remaining strength by these manoeuvres, when 

 he has no longer the power to run before them. I have often 

 seen a fox thus loitering, and then lie down and rest himself at 

 full length, when quite beaten, until the hounds were nearly 

 close upon him ; but i never observed an improvement in scent 

 upon this particular ground, but quite the reverse. In my 

 younger days, I always fancied the slower the movement of the 

 animal, the better the scent ; but experience has convinced me, 

 such is not the fact. The reason is, that from all animals in a 

 state of repose or in very slow motion, there is little effluvia 

 from the body, but with an increase of action, there is also an 

 increase of scent. Were a fox to remain quietly in his kennel, 

 the chances would be, that the hounds would pass him by ; and 

 how often is this the case ; much oftener than we are aware of. 

 How frequently have foxes been drawn over and viewed, after 

 hounds have left the covert ; but how many escape during a 

 season in this manner, no one can tell. From a horse in good 

 condition when galloped sharply, the perspiration will escape 

 in streams ; but if pulled up and allowed to walk, he will soon 

 become quite cool again. The case is the same with the fox 

 wdien pressed by hounds, and obliged to put his best leg fore- 

 most, but, if given time, he will soon become cool, and jog 

 leisurely along with little exertion. 



CHAPTErv XXXVI. 



Is a fox a good judge of scent ?— Method of catcliing liig game — A visit to 

 De Ville — Stoat and rabbit — Dog foxes in the spring of the year — Effect 

 of heat upon them. 



Foxes have been said, by some acute writers, to be good 

 judges of scent, and therefore make themselves scarce on good 



