SCENT
—is the leading principle from which the great and inexpressible enjoyment of all FIELD SPORTS is derived. It is the sublime and inexplicable mystery upon which so many have contemplated, without being enabled to define. That every information may be collected upon a subject so rich, and so desirable of attainment to the SPORTING WORLD, a rotational but concise review shall be introduced from those who have given their thoughts in print to the public.
We are told by one, that "Scent is an effluvium continually arising from the corpuscles that issue out of all bodies; and being impregnated with the peculiar state and quality of the blood and juices of that particular animal from which they flow, occasions the vast variety of smells or scents cognizable by the olfactory nerves, or organs of smelling." This writer proceeds in confirmation thus: "Hence the reason why one person differs from another in scent, and why a dog will trace the footsteps of his master for a hundred miles together, following him into any house, church, or other building, though surrounded by ten thousand: and when the faithful animal has thus diligently sought out and recognized his master, he is seldom willing even to trust the evidence of his own eyes, until, with erected crest, he has taken a few cordial sniffs, to convince himself he is right. Hence also we perceive how a pack of hounds are enabled to pursue HARE, FOX, STAG, or any other animal they are trained to hunt, across the scent, and amidst the society of others of the same species, without being diverted from the pursuit of that self same animal they had first on foot; and hence too we discover how it is possible for birds and beasts of prey to be directed to their food at such vast distances; for these corpuscles issuing from putrid bodies, and floating in the air, are carried by the wind to different quarters; where striking the olfactory nerves of whatever animals they meet in their way, immediately conduct them to the spot: and it is by this means the small-pox, measles, putrid fevers, and all epidemic complaints, are communicated, and the plague and pestilence conveyed from one place to another.
"It matters not how much the effluvia may be gone off, so as enough remains to irritate the olfactory organ: for whether it be bird or beast, they try the scent in all directions, till at length they discover that which is stronger and stronger, in proportion as they proceed; and this Nature has taught them to know is the direct and obvious road to their prey, and prevents them from following a contrary course, which is naturally weaker and weaker, and what in hunting is called heel. This observation is confirmed by the encreasing eagerness we perceive in all animals, the nearer they approach the object of pursuit; as we see hounds and spaniels in HUNTING and SHOOTING, are the most earnest, in proportion as the scent is recent, and they draw nearer to the GAME. The same thing amongst quadrupeds, whether wild or domestic, directs the male to the female that is in season for love; and hence we see the DOG, the BOAR, the BULL, and the STALLION, when turned loose, apply their nostrils to the ambient air, and proceed accordingly. By the same medium the vermin which infest our dwellings know how to direct their operations; whether to undermine walls, eat through solid boards, cross rivers, or climb spouts; which shows how much stronger the faculty of smelling is possessed by the brute than the HUMAN species; wisely ordained by Nature, to enable them to seek their food, and propagate their species; but for which they would often perish, or have long since become extinct."
Somervile, seemingly anxious to explore this hidden source of instinct, conceives the SCENT (divested of the dignity of blank verse) to arise from the peculiar property of the blood; which, when the game is on foot, is so encreased in its circulation, that the "ferous particles" are propelled through the skin in perspiration, and
"Leaves a long-steaming trail behind; which, by
The cooler air condens'd, remains, unless
By some rude storm dispers'd, or rarefy'd
By the meridian sun's intenser heat:
To every shrub the warm effluvia cling,
Hang on the grass, impregnate earth and skies.
With nostrils opening wide, o'er hill, o'er dale,
The vig'rous hounds pursue, with ev'ry breath,
Inhale the grateful steam, quick pleasures sting
Their tingling nerves, while their thanks repay,
And in triumphant melody confess
The titillating joy. Thus on the air
Depends the hunter's hopes."
Mr. Beckford, equally energetic in his endeavours to discover and ascertain the origin and property of SCENT, very modestly confesses his state of uncertainty, in a few lines preparatory to his remarks made in a letter to his friend, where he observes, "As you ask me my opinion of SCENT, I think I had better give it you before we begin upon the subject of HUNTING. I must, at the same time, take the liberty of telling you, that you have puzzled me exceedingly; for scent is, I believe, what we SPORTSMEN know least about. Somervile, the only one I know of who has thrown any light upon the subject of HUNTING, says, I think, but little about scent; I send you his words: I shall afterwards add a few of my own." Adverting then to the conclusion of the above quotation, he most judiciously proceeds:
"I cannot agree with Mr. Somervile, in thinking that SCENT depends on the AIR only; it depends also on the soil. Without doubt, the best scent is that which is occasioned by the effluvia, as he calls it, or particles of scent, which are constantly perspiring from GAME as it runs, and are strongest and most favourable to the hound, when kept by the gravity of the air to the height of his breast: for then it neither is above his reach, nor is it necessary he should stoop for it. At such times scent is said to lie breast high. Experience tells us, that difference of soil occasions difference of SCENT; and on the richness and moderate moistness of the soil does it also depend, I think, as well as on the AIR. At the time leaves begin to fall, and before they are rotted, we know that the scent lies ill in covert. This alone would be a sufficient proof, that scent does not depend on the air only. A difference of scent is also occasioned by a difference of motion; the faster the game goes, the less scent it leaves. When game has been ridden after, and hurried on by imprudent sportsmen, the scent is less favourable to hounds; one reason of which may be, that the particles of scent are then more dissipated. But if the game should have been run by a dog not belonging to the pack, seldom will any scent remain.
"I believe it is very difficult to ascertain what SCENT exactly is: I have known it alter very often in the same day. I believe, however, that it depends chiefly on two things; the condition the ground is in, and the temperature of the air; both of which, I apprehend, should be moist, without being wet: when both are in this condition, the scent is then perfect; and vice versa, when the ground is hard, and the air dry, there seldom will be any scent. It scarce ever lies with a north or an east wind; a southerly wind, without rain, and a westerly wind, that is not rough, are the most favourable. Storms in the air are great enemies to scent, and seldom fail to take it entirely away. A fine sun-shiny day is not often a good hunting day; but what the French call jour des dames, warm without sun, is generally a perfect one: there are not many such in a whole season. In some fogs, I have known the scent lie high; in others, not at all; depending, I believe, on the quarter the WIND is then in. I have known it lie very high in a mist, when not too wet; but if the wet should hang on the boughs and bushes, it will fall upon the scent, and deaden it. When the dogs roll, the scent, I have frequently observed, seldom lies; for what reason, I know not; but, with permission, if they smell strong when first they come out of the kennel, the proverb is in their favour; and that smell is a prognostic of good luck.
"When cobwebs hang on the bushes, there is seldom much scent. During a white frost, the scent lies high; as it also does when the frost is quite gone: at the time of its going off, scent never lies: it is a critical minute for hounds, in which their game is frequently lost. In a great dew, the scent is the same. In heathy countries, where the game brushes as it goes along, scent seldom fails. Where the ground carries, the scent is bad, for a very evident reason, which hare-hunters, who pursue their game over greasy fallows, and through dirty roads, have great reason to complain of. A wet night frequently produces good chases, as then the game neither like to run the COVERT, nor the ROADS. It has been often remarked, that scent lies best in the richest soils; and countries which are favourable to horses, are seldom so to hounds. I have also observed, that in some particular places, let the temperature of the air be as it may, scent never lies."
Amidst the various opinions upon the origin and property of scent, the most opposite join issue upon the simple question of doubt; whether the particles of effluvia which constitute what is termed scent, and by which hounds are excited to follow the game, are proper identical parts of the animal's body emitted in exhalations of respiration from the lungs, or by the transpiration of perspirative matter through the skin. This, perhaps, is of too abstruse a depth for the utmost extent of human wisdom to explore with success. The opinion of Somervile seems founded upon the very basis of experimental observation, bettered by the sound judgment, and practical remarks, upon the promoting, or retarding, effects of both the atmosphere and soil; to which one circumstance alone seems to convey additional rays of elucidation. It must be recollected by every sportsman, who has occasionally taken the field with HARRIERS, that, although they have picked the trail for a mile, into the very stubble, fallow, or covert, where the hare is sitting in her form; although they are trying round her in every direction, and even within a very few yards; there is then no more palpable perceptible scent, than when they trailed at half a mile from her form; and when she lays close, it is evident the dog, or dogs, derive no additional advantage from being nearer to her, (in respect to finding,) unless by stealing away, or jumping up, she gets into motion, when the scent is then afloat, and continued as already described.
Whether this enquiry will ever be traced to the source of certainty, is almost immaterial; it is a large field for the speculation of philosophy, and well worthy investigation. From a contemplative review of the operations of nature, it is evidently demonstrated, that there is a secret instinctive principle infused into the whole race of animals, whereby they are impulsively propelled to the propagation of their species, the preservation of their offspring, or an implicit pursuit of their propensities; so that no one shall become too numerous and destructive for the existence of another upon whom they prey, or with which they live in a perpetual state of warfare. It is likewise to be remarked, that the greater likeness we discover in the form of the animal creation, the more we perceive their friendly disposition to each other; because the scent of their bodies afford a pleasing gratification to the sensitive faculty, without exciting the appetite; if it was not for which all-wise dispensation of a superior and invisible Power, the same species would devour each other, and the purposes of the creation would be annihilated by the operation of its own works.