"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."