THE FOX 277 



There is little doubt that on many days when 

 hounds cannot find, and on which days the scent 

 has been proved to be capital, foxes are under 

 ground ; they are not afraid to stay above ground 

 in bad scenting weather, but take care to be out 

 of the way in good. And on those days, if a pack 

 of hounds come suddenly upon him — that is, to 

 draw the cover where he is lying, before he has an 

 opportunity to steal off — it will often be observed 

 that he will He till they almost tread on him, if 

 late in the day and no drag ; which is one proof 

 that the scent does not come from the body or 

 breath of the animal, but from the touch. And by 

 his lying quiet in his kennel, the scent does not 

 exude from under him, that is, from the ground 

 he lies upon, until he moves away, according to the 

 old song — 



And Saucebox roars out in his kennel. 



But the most convincing and satisfactory proof, 

 that the scent does come from the touch of the 

 animal is that, when the ground carries after a 

 frost, there is even a burning scent on turf and 

 sound hard ground, until the hounds get on a 

 fallow or ploughed ground, when they will feel the 

 scent for a few paces only, and it will entirely go 



