A COURSING NOTE.

Bruce Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 51, 28 June 1909, Page 3

A COURSING NOTE.

SCENT 01* ANIMALS

There is no certain criterion to jutlye by, but almost invariably _ a good scenting day will follow the rising quicksilver. On the other hand, when the barometer is falling scent is generally bad. The skin of all animals being porous, scent is the exhalation thrown oil from the body of the animal through these pores. AY hen the animal is in a quiet state, the scent thrown oft is moderate, but when the body is put into active motion, the exhalations escape so rapidly that they form a kind of misty halo around it, and as the animal runs these particles of scent float upon the air, and according to its temperature becomo slowly or quickly dissipated. The state of the ground also has a good deal to do with scent, but not nearly so much as the atmosphere. One often hears the term used that scent is "breast high" when hounds are running up wind, with heads up and sterns down, but this invariably means that the scent is "head high" : that is, that the particles of scent arc floating over the heads of the hounds. If not, how is it that the last hound in the pack throws his tongue as eagerly as .the first? Were it only breast high, the bodies of the first few couples, interposing between the scent and their companions, would entirely absorb these flouting particles, as the scent of their own bodies must overcome the scent of the animal pursued, and render it unattainable to those forming the rear rank. This may be seen in the conduct of hounds on a bad scenting day, when there is only a pad scent. Then the old and tried hounds alone proclaim the news to their less experienced friends that their game is forwaxxl. The young- and dashing hounds, ever foremost when on a burning scent, now take their proper place in the rear and wait for the wiser ones to guide them. During a hard frost when the day is not bright there is always a good scent, but if the sun has much power it is quickly dispersed. Hounds will often run well along the shady side of a cover or hedge where the frost is lying, but when they come out into the sun throw up their heads at once.

The scent of the hunted hair is inferior to that of a freshiy-found one, due cither to the slowness of movement or exhaustion of the bodily exhalations—probably the latter. Were a hare to sit quietly in her •seat when hounds are drawing, the probability is that we should not find nearly so often. Frequently a hare is put up by the field after the hounds have drawn over the very ground. This is no fault of. the hounds, but merely a proof that when an animal is stationary there is practically no scent given ofT.