HUNTING DIRECTORY. ^65 



Hounds not eager in the Pursuit of the Wolf. 



nothing more encourages and animates the dog in the 

 pursuit. You must take good care that the blood hound 

 may not take the scent of some wolf that has entered the 

 forest by some ravine or great road ; and when you 

 perceive that the dog is about to acknowledge the scent, 

 and that he puts his nose either to the branches or the 

 tufts of grass, you must encourage him; for dogs are 

 naturally not very eager after the wolf; and I have re- 

 marked, that they are not very eager in quest of him. 

 Besides, the scent of the wolf does not continue more 

 than two or three hours ; and to be enabled to unkennel 

 him, he should not have passed more than two hours ; 

 otherwise the blood hounds will scarcely be able to hunt 

 up to him, especially if it be on a beaten dry road. For 

 he leaves more scent behind him when he runs upon the 

 grass or among the bushes, because he touches whatever 

 he meets, as well with his body as his feet, and when the 

 scent is protected from the wind or sun ; and this cir- 

 cumstance assists the blood hounds in the pursuit. 



When the huntsman perceives that his dog has got 

 upon the scent of a wolf, he should encourage him in 

 these terms : — Wliat! is he there boy? — haii Vamy apres 

 veleci y d'lt vrai, and he should frequently repeat them 

 in order to encourage the dog, which he must continue 

 to follow, either by the side of the way or hi the faux 

 fuyant. Too much attention cannot be used on this 

 occasion, because there is always reason to apprehend, 

 lest the scent should grow too weak, and lest the blood 

 hound should relinquish it at the first cross-way to which 

 the wolf may have betaken himself. It is to be observed, 

 that when the wolf passes a cross-way, he always stops 



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