TlidUGHTS UPON HUNTING. I5,0 



hounds ; one reafon of which may be, that the 

 particles of fcent are then more diflipated. But 

 if the game fhould have been run by a dog not 

 belonging to the pack, fcldom will any fcent re- 

 main, 



I believe it is very difficult to alccrtain what 

 fcent exadlly is ; I have known it alter very often 

 in the fame day. I believe, however, that it de- 

 pends chiefly on two things, '^ the condition the 

 '' ground is in, and- the temperature of the air; 

 both of which, I apprehend, Oiould be moiil", 

 vv'ithout being wet : when both are in this con- 

 dition, the fcent is then perfe6l ; and vice verfa, 

 when 'he groitnd is hard, and the air dry, there 

 feldom will be an^? (cent. — It fcarce ever lies v^^ith 

 a north, or an eail wind ; a foutherly wind wnth- 

 out rain, and a wefierly wind that is not rough, 

 are the mofi: favourable. — Storms in the air are 

 great enemies to fcent, and fcKlom fail to take it 

 entirely away. — ^A fine fun fhiny day is not often 

 a g'""© 1 hunting day ; but vHiat the French call^ 

 jiur des dames^ warm without fun, is generally a 

 perfect one : there are not many fuch in a vv^hole 

 feafon. — ^In fome fogs, I have known the fcent lie 

 high ; in others, not at all ; depending, I believe, 

 on the qi;arter the wind is then in. — 1 havekinown 

 rt lie very high m a mrft, when not too wet ; 

 but if the wet fhould hang on the boughs and 

 bufhes, it will fail upon the fcent, and deaden it.- 

 K When' 



