Page:Cynegetica.djvu/35

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[ 19 ]

Greek Method of Hare Hunting,
from Xenophon.

THE trail of the Hare is long during the winter, on account of the length of the nights, and in the ſummer, ſhort, for the contrary reaſon. In the winter there is no ſcent early in the morning, when there is either a hoar-froſt, or ice; for the hoar-froſt by its proper force collecting the warm particles, contains them in itſelf, and the ice condenſes them.

When theſe happen [1], the dogs with the moſt delicate noſes cannot touch before the

  1. Αἱ κύνες μαλκιωσαι τὰς ῥῖνας κ.τ.λ. "The dogs whoſe noſes are tender." The common interpretation "that the dogs cannot ſmell at ſuch times on account of the tenderneſs of their noſes," is abſolute nonſenſe. How ſhould a hoar-froſt hurt a hound's noſe ſo as to hinder his ſmelling, or the tenderneſs of the noſe hinder the accuracy of the ſenſe? My interpretation is warranted by the original, and is exactly the caſe. See the Eſſays, p. 14.
C2
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