98 lewis's AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



them would be to circle entirely around them, and then the chances 

 are much against your being able to close on them before they 

 again take wing. 



RETAINING SCENT. 



It has frequently been observed by every sportsman that the 

 very best of dogs, at times, cannot find partridges, even when 

 marked down in the most open ground and are known to be 

 secreted immediately around the spot where the dogs are put to 

 hunt. This fact has been a mystery for years to some sportsmen, 

 and many a valuable dog has been grossly and unjustly censured 

 for his want of nose in not finding the birds under these circum- 

 stances. This seeming deficiency, however, in the olfactory 

 organs of our canine favorite, is now easily accounted for by the 

 presumed existence of a singular provision of nature, which en- 

 dows the American partridge with the extraordinary faculty of 

 withholding, for a time, the emanation from its body of that pecu- 

 liarly strong odor that betrays its proximity to the dog. This 

 phenomenon was very particularly inquired into, some years since, 

 by Dr. Smith, of Baltimore ; and the results of his inquiries were 

 published, at that time, in the form of a letter to Mr. Skinner, 

 which interesting communication we take pleasure in bringing 

 again to the notice of sportsmen by its insertion in these pages. 

 We are constrained to do this from the conviction that nothing has 

 been written, since its publication, that further elucidates this 

 subject; and, if we were to attempt to give our own views and 

 observations upon the phenomenon, it could not be done in a more 

 practical and satisfactory manner than Dr. Smith has accomplished 

 it ; and we therefore give place to its insertion with all pleasure : — 



Mr. Editor: — A close scrutiny of every subject in natural his- 

 tory discloses some marvellous power given to inferior creatures 

 for their preservation from the hostility of man and his various 

 and numerous agents. It is surprising how many striking facts 

 are forced upon us for contemplation before any doctrine is 



