^56 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



Erroneous Notions respecting the Scent of diSferent Animals. 



of his enemies in such case, as he will avoid the heath as 

 much as possible, and perseveringly continue his course 

 along the roads or any beaten track he can meet with. 



That the scent of the fox does not continue so long as 

 that of the hare, is a mistaken notion ; and has arisen 

 most likely from harriers being generally more tender 

 nosed than fox hounds, and are thence enabled to speak 

 to the scent after a considerable lapse of time — in pro- 

 portion of course to the quality of the olfactory organs. 



Also, it may be further remarked, that, while it has 

 been the custom amongst sportsmen to consider the scent 

 of the fox stronger, but more evanescent, than that of 

 the hare, it has, at the same time, been the general 

 opinion, that the scent of the stag was the strongest of 

 the three, and the most agreeable to hounds. I have no 

 hesitation in supposing that the scent issuing from so 

 large an animal as the stag must be much greater in 

 volume (if I may be allowed the expression) than the 

 odorous exhalations from the two much smaller animals 

 already noticed ; yet, I think it will appear, when the 

 matter is duly investigated, that the general notions 

 respecting scent have been inconsiderately adopted, and 

 have arisen as much, or perhaps more, from the olfactory 

 organs of the hound as from the difference in the scent 

 of the animals which constitute the objects of chase. At 

 all events, I feel a perfect conviction (which indeed I 

 have already expressed) that the scent of the fox is not 

 more evanescent than that of the hare, if so much, and 

 that hounds which could recognise the scent of a hare 

 after the lapse of a considerable period, would also speak 

 to that of the fox in the same manner, or perhaps more 

 easily. 



