130 THOtTGHTS UPON HUNTING. 



When the dogs roll, the fcent, I have frequently 

 obferved, feldom lies ; for what reafon, I know 

 not; but, with permiffion, if they fmell ftrong, 

 when they firfl come out of the kennel, the pro-* 

 verb is in their favour ; and tliat fmell is a prog- 

 noflic of good luck. — When cobwebs hang on 

 the bufhes, there is feldom much fcent. — During 

 a white frofl the fcent lies high ; as it alfo does 

 when the froft is quite gone : at the time of its 

 going off, fcent never lies : it is a critical minute 

 for hounds, in which their game is frequently loft. 

 In a great dew the fcent is the fame. In heathy 

 countries, where the game bruflies as it goes 

 along, fcent feldom fails. Where the ground 

 carries, the fcent is bad for a very evident reafon^ 

 which hare-hunters, who purfue their game over 

 greafy fallows, and through dirty roads, have 

 great caufe to complain of. A wet night fre- 

 quently produces good chaces, as then, the game 

 neither like to run the cover, nor the roads. — It 

 has been often remarked, that fcent lies beft in 

 the richeft foils ; and countries which are favour- 

 ble to horfes, are feldom fo to hounds. I have 

 alfo obferved that, in fome particular places, let 

 the temperature of the air be as it may, fcent never 

 lies. 



Take not out your hounds on a very windy, or 

 bad day. 



(' Thefe 



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