174 THE SENSE OF SMELL. 



brushes the grass or the boughs as it goes along, the scent seldom fails. 

 It lies best on the richest soils ; but the countries that are favourable 

 to horses are not always so to hounds. The morning usually affords the 

 best scent, and the game is then least able to escape. The want of rest, 

 added perhaps to a full belly, gives the hounds a decided superiority over 

 an early-found fox ; and the condition of the ground and the temperature 

 of the air are circumstances of much importance. 



Such are the results of the best observations on scent ; but, after all, we 

 have much to learn concerning it. Many a day that predicated to be a 

 good one for scent has turned out a very bad one, and vice versa. An 

 old or experienced sportsman, knowing this, will never presume to make 

 sure of his scent. 



We shall be forgiven if we pursue this subject a little at length. 



There is not only a constant appropriation of new matter to repair the 

 losses that animals are continually sustaining, but there is a constant elabo- 

 ration of gaseous or fluid matter maintaining the balance of the different 

 systems, and essential to the continuance of life. This effluvium, as the 

 animal moves from place to place, is attracted and detained for a while 

 by the substances with which it comes into contact, or it remains floating 

 in the atmosphere. There is a peculiar smell or scent belonging to each 

 individual, either generally or under peculiar circumstances. 



The sportsman takes advantage of this ; and, as most species of dogs 

 possess great acuteness of olfactory power, they can distinguish, or are 

 readily taught to distinguish, not only the scent of the hare from that of 

 the fox, but that of the hare or fox which they are pursuing from that of 

 half a dozen others that may be started during the chace. 



The dogs that are selected for this purpose are those the conformation 

 of whose face and head gives ample room for the development of the 

 olfactory apparatus, and these are the different species of hounds ; but a 

 systematic education, and too often a great deal of unnecessary cruelty, is 

 resorted to, in order to make them perfect in their work. The distinction 

 between the scent of the fox and that of the hare is soon learned by the 

 respective packs ; and, when it is considered that the hunted hare is per- 

 spiring at every pore, and her strength being almost exhausted, she is 

 straining every limb to escape from her pursuers, the increasing quantity 

 of vapour which exudes from her will prevent every other newly started 

 animal from being mistaken for her. 



It has been well observed that when the atmosphere is loaded with 

 moisture, and rain is at hand, the gas is speedily dissolved and mingles 

 with the surrounding air. A storm dissipates it at once, while the cessa- 

 tion of the rain is preceded by the return and increased power of scent. 

 A cold, dry easterly wind condenses and absorbs it, and this is even 

 more speedily and irretrievably done by superabundant moisture. On 

 fallows and beaten roads the scent rarely lies well, for there is nothing 

 to detain it, and it is swept away in a moment ; while over a luxuriant 

 pasture, or by the hedge-row, or on the coppice, it lingers, clinging to the 

 grass or the bushes. In a sunshiny day the scent is seldom strong ; for 

 too much of it is evaporated by the heat. The most favourable period is 

 a soft southerly wind without rain, the scent being of the same temperature 

 and gravity with the atmosphere. Although it spreads over the level, it 

 rises not far above the ground, and, being breast high, enables the hound, 

 keeping his muzzle in the midst of it, to run at his greatest speed. The 



