CHAPTER X. 



Of Scent. — Influence of the Atmosphere upon Scent. — 

 Is differetit in different Anhnals. 



Scent is that exudation or effluvium, which is con- 

 stantly issuing fi'om the pores of all animal substances, 

 and consists of minute particles or corpuscles, which, 

 driven by the wind or otherwise, and coming in contact 

 with the olfactory nerves of the hound, enable him to 

 follow his game, or to continue the pursuit. Several 

 writers have given their opinion upon this subject, which 

 I shall place successively before the reader. An author, 

 (the Old Squire) whom I have already noticed observes : 



" Above all other things, the scent has been ever my 

 admiration: the bulk, size, figure, and other accidents 

 or qualities of these parts or portions of matter that dis- 

 charge themselves from the bodies of these beasts of 

 game, are subjects much fitter for the experiments and 

 learned descants of a philosopher, than a simple hunts- 

 man. Whether they are to be considered as an extrane- 

 ous stock or treasure of odoriferous particles given them 

 by Divine Wisdom, for the very purpose of hunting? 

 whether they are proper identical parts of the animal's 

 body, that continually ferment and perspire from it? 

 whether these exhalations are from the breath of her 

 lungs, or through the skin of her whole body ? are 

 questions also that deserve the subtilty of a virtuoso. 

 But such observations as long experience has suggested 



