THE FOX 73 



The fact that any dry, hard surface is unfavorable 

 to the hound, suggests, in a measure, the explana- 

 tion 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 is 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 powerless 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 nos- 

 trils 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 murdered. Here the hunter prefers a rough, 

 mountainous 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, shoots him down. 



I recently had the pleasure of a turn with some 

 experienced hunters. As we ascended the ridge 

 toward the mountain, keeping in our ears the uncer- 



