Page:Cynegetica.djvu/89

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Hare Hunting.
73

after her, without the trouble of ſtooping; yet, at ſuch a ſeaſon, the firſt fault is the loſs of your Game; the perſpirations of her body being waſted over head by the gravity of the air, and thoſe of her feet being left on elements that abſorb or confound them. This laft caſe very often happens at the going off of a froſt; the mercury is then commonly falling, and by conſequence the ſcent ſinking to the ground. The earth is naturally on ſuch occaſion fermenting, diſſolving, ſtinking, exhaling, and very porous, ſo that it is impoſſible but moſt of the particles muſt then be corrupted, buried, or overcome by ſtronger vapours. It is common to hear the vulgar ſay, ſhe carries dirt in her heels; but that is not all, it being very plain, by what has been obſerved, that it is not only by the ſcent of the foot ſhe is ſo eagerly purſued. The mention of froſt puts me in mind of a particular obſervation of my own making, that may be uſeful or diverting to my Brethren of the Chace: You all make it a great part of your pleaſure to hunt out the walk of a Hare to her ſeat, and doubtleſs you have often been ſur-

prizingly