THE FOX. 87 



The fact that any dry, hard surface is unfavorable 

 to the hound, suggests, in a measure, the explanation 

 of the wonderful faculty that all dogs in a degree 

 possess to track an animal by the scent of the foot 

 alone. Did you ever think why a dog's nose it 

 always wet ? Examine the nose of a fox-hound, for 

 instance ; how very moist and sensitive ! Cause this 

 moisture to dry up, and the dog would be as power- 

 less to track an animal as you are ! The nose of the 

 cat, you may observe, is but a little moist, and, as 

 you know, her sense of smell is far inferior to that of 

 the dog. Moisten your own nostrils and lips, and 

 this sense is plainly sharpened. The sweat of a dog's 

 nose, therefore, is no doubt a vital element in its 

 power, and, without taking a very long logical stride^ 

 we may infer how a damp, rough surface aids him in 

 tracking game. 



A fox hunt in this country is, of course, quite a 

 different thing from what it is in England, where all 

 the squires and noblemen of a borough, superbly 

 mounted, go riding over the country, guided by the 

 yelling hounds, till the fox is literally run down and 

 nuTrdered. Here the hunter prefers a rough, mount- 

 ainous country, and, as probably most persons know, 

 takes advantage of the disposition of the fox, when 

 pursued by the hound, to play or circle around a ridge 

 or bold point, and, taking his stand near the run-way 

 %hoots him down. 



I recently had the pleasure of a turn with some ex- 

 perienced hunters. As we ascended the ridge toward 



