under these conditions (4) use their sense of smell, until the sun
or the mere advance of day dissolves the scent. Then the noses of the
hounds recover, and the scent of the trail begins to exhale itself
perceptibly. (5)

(3) Reading {malkiosai}, Cobet, "N. Lect." 131. "Mnem." 3, 306;
Rutherford, "N. Phry." p. 135. = "nipped, or numb with cold." For
vulg. {malakiosai} = "whose noses are tender," see Lenz ad loc.

(4) Lit. "when the tracks are in this case."

(5) As it evaporates. Aliter, "is perceptible to smell as it is wafted
by the breeze to greet them."

Heavy dews also will obliterate scent by its depressing effect; (6) and
rains occurring after long intervals, while bringing out odours from
the earth, (7) will render the soil bad for scent until it dries again.
Southerly winds will not improve scent--being moisture-laden they
disperse it; whereas northerly winds, provided the scent has not been
previously destroyed, tend to fix and preserve it. Rains will drown
and wash it away, and so will drizzle; while the moon by her heat
(8)--especially a full moon--will dull its edge; in fact the trail is
rarest--most irregular (9)--at such times, for the hares in their joy
at the light with frolic and gambol (10) literally throw themselves high
into the air and set long intervals between one footfall and another.
Or again, the trail will become confused and misleading when crossed by
that of foxes. (11)

(6) Cf. Plut. "Q. Nat." 917 F, ap. Schneid.

(7) Cf. Theophr. "C. Pl." xix. 5, 6; xx. 4.

(8) Reading {to thermo}. Aristot. "Gen. An." iv. 10. Zeune cf. Plut.
"Symp." iii. 10, 657. Macrob. "Sat." vii. 16; Athen. 276 E. Al.
{to thermon}. See Lenz ad loc., "the moon, especially a full moon,
dulls the heat (or odour) of the tracks."

(9) Cf. Poll. v. 67; ib. 66.

(10) "Playing with one another, in the rivalry of sport."

(11) Lit. "when foxes have gone through before."

Spring with its tempered mildness is the season to render the scent
clear, except where possibly the soil, bursting with flowers, may
mislead the pack, by mingling the perfume of flowers with the true
scent. (12) In summer scent is thin and indistinct; the earth being
baked through and through absorbs the thinner warmth inherent in the
trail, while the dogs themselves are less keen scented at that season
through the general relaxation of their bodies. (13) In autumn scent
lies clean, all the products of the soil by