254 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



At first view, Somervile and Beckford would appear 

 at variance on the subject of scent; but, in fact, they are 

 both correct. Scent is entirely under the influence of 

 the atmosphere ; yet it is equally true that it varies, ac- 

 cording to the nature of the land, in the manner pointed 

 out by Beckford. On Friday, February 3rd, 182G, I 

 met the Cheshire hounds at Ravensmoor, near Nantwich, 

 and a fox was found in a neighbouring cover, called 

 Radnor Gorse. The hounds went away with uncommon 

 speed ; and sly renard having gone oft* in a line for 

 Ravensmoor, turned to the left to Beechhouse. The 

 fox took the direction of Bar Bridge, j^assing over a fine 

 grass country, where the scent was very good, and the 

 hounds continued the pursuit with so much speed, that 

 none but good workmen were able to keep in sight of 

 them. I never recollect seeing hounds carry a better 

 head or go faster. The fox ultimately turned to the left 

 towards the village of Bunbury, where the land was 

 higher and sandy, and where the scent immediately died 

 away. Yet, I am inclined to think that this circumstance 

 was owing as well to atmospheric influence as to the 

 alteration in the soil, as rain came on immediately after- 

 wards. On rich pasture land, the scent will be much 

 better than on poor pasture land— for the following 

 reason :— the herbage on the former being more luxuri- 

 iint, more plentiful, and possessing a more adhesive 

 quahty, the floating particles of scent arc thus more 

 numerously and longer detained, and consequently afford 

 a superior scent to the hounds. Nevertheless, the 

 degree of scent is, beyond all question, regulated entirely 

 by the atmosphere :— when the latter if favourable (as 



