HORSES AND HOU^rDS. 235 



• scenting daj'-s, the reason assigned why they should be so being 

 that they catch th?ir prey by hunting. The conclusion from 

 such premises, that a fox must therefore know a good scenting 

 day from a bad one, as applicable to his own individual case, is 

 not quite so comprehensible to my obtuse understanding as I 

 could wish. It is a mystery, perhaps, appertaining to the theory 

 of the noble science in which I am not yet sufficiently instructed 

 myself, and therefore cannot enlighten my readers. Stoats and 

 weasels I have seen hunting down their game, until they are 

 entirely worn out by running ; and I have seen Mr. Stoat run 

 into his fox {i e., rabbit) in the open, as thoroughly beaten and 

 done up as a hare before a pack of beagles ; but in all my excur- 

 sions, both by day and twilight, and also under the pale moon's 

 silvery rays — although I have met Mr. Wiley occasionally 

 " by moonlight alone," and have seen him perform many and 

 clever antics in various ways — I have never yet witnessed any 

 attempts on his part to run down his game by nose. That he 

 possesses very stronglj^-developed organs of smelling, I freely 

 admit ; and this will be readily granted by all who have the 

 honour of Mr. Wiley's acquaintance, without requiring Mr. Do 

 Ville to examine liis pericranium, which Mr. De Yille would 

 himself most probably decline to experiment upon, at least on 

 the cranium of a living specimen. 



I had once the folly to submit my ov/n caput to the manipu- 

 lations of this professor of the occult science of craniology, more 

 for the satisfaction of a country friend — or acquaintance rather ; 

 for friends are raiw aves in all times, if you except the wor- 

 shippers of Mammon, who stick close enough to a man as long 

 as he is well to do in the world. Those two lines, which, as a 

 boy at school I read in my Delectus, have often struck me in 

 after life, as showing how true an estimate the Latin poet had 

 formed of human nature, equally applicable to all ages : — 



Donee erisfelix multos numerahis amicos; 

 Tempora sifuerint nuhila solus eris, 



which, for the benefit of those who are not acquainted with 

 such lingo, may be translated thus : — 



'•' TMiilst sunshine lasts, you will count many noses, 

 But when dark clouds arise, the street-door closes." 



" Not at home, sir," when, having seen your friend enter his 

 house in Grosvenor Square, you hasten to catch him at home. 

 Knocking at the door, the powdered lacquey makes his appear- 

 ance. You inquire if your friend Mr. Nemo is within. " Not 

 at home, sir," is the answer. " Why, I saw him enter only a 



