J 25 THOUGHTS UF0If HtJNTIN^^ 



"With noftrils opening wide, o'er hill, o'er dale^ 

 The vig'rous hounds purfue, with ev'ry breath 

 Inhale the grateful ll:eam, quick pleafures fting 

 Their tingling nerves, while their thanks repays 

 And in triumphant melody confefs 

 The titillating joy. Thus on the air 

 Depends the hunters hopes." 



I cannot agree with Mr. Somervlle;, in think-' 

 ing that fcent depends on the air only ; it de- 

 pends alfo on the foil. Without doubt, the beft 

 fcent is that, which is occalioned by the effluvia, 

 as he calls it, or particles of fcent, which are con- 

 ilantly perfpiring from the game as it runs, and 

 are ftrongeft and moll favourable to the hound, 

 when kept by the gravity of the air, to the height 

 of his breaft ; for then, it neither is above his 

 reach, nor is it neceffary that he fhould floop for 

 it. At fuch times, fcent is faid to lie hreaji high. 

 Experience tells us, that difference of foil occa- 

 lions difference of fcent ; and on the richnefs and 

 moderate moiflure of the foil does it alfo depend 

 I think, as well on the air. At the time leaves 

 begin to fall, and before they are rotted, we know 

 that the fcent lies ill in cover. This alone would 

 be a fufficient proof, that fcent does not depend 

 on the air only. A ditfcrence of fcent is alio oc- 

 cafioned by difference of motion ; the fafler the 

 game goes, the lefs fcent it leaves. When game 

 has been ridden after, and hurried on by impru- 

 dent fportfmen, the fcent is kfs favourable to 

 I hounds 'f 



