OF SERPENTS. 67 



agalnftthe Dog's Nofe, and produce that Senfation of Smell.- 



N. B. The Jntenfity of Smell in all Creatures, is in proportion to 

 the Denfity or Thicknefs where we are: This Deniity is always 

 diminifh'd in proportion to the Squares of the Diftances from the 

 odorous Body. 



Y E A, a little Cur, by the Power of Smelling, can find out his 

 Mafter among Thoufands, will trace his Steps thro' Crouds in Fairs 

 and Markets j yea, throughout a whole Country. Our Hiltories 

 inform us of Dogs in fome parts of this Ifland, that being put up- 

 on the Scent, would purfue a Thief and a Murderer; and if he 

 crofs'd a River, would fmell where he entered, and fwim after 

 him 3 and when arrived at t'other fide, would hunt about till 

 they found where he landed, and then run on, till they overtook 

 the Criminal. 



I N Animals is a fulphurous or oily Matter, fo attenuated and 

 fubtiliz'd as to become volatile, which is denominated a Spirit: 

 Now that there is fuch a Spirit in Man, and a peculiar one too in 

 every Man, is evident from thefe Dogs, which will purfue the 

 Game by their Nofe, and follow their Mafter's Track, and di- 

 llinguifli it precifely; yea, tho' a thoufand other Perfons had pafc 

 the fame way. 



I T muft be by meer Force of Smelling, that the Dog is able 

 to do this, that is, to diftinguifh his Mafter from all Men by the 

 Inftrumentality of his Nofe. 



Therefore there muft be fome fpecifick Matter exhaled 

 from the Mafter's Body, which the Dog can perfed:ly diftinguifti 

 from the various Eftiuvia flowing from all other Perfons. 



The Dog muft exceed us, in that he can thus exad:ly difcern 

 his Mafter, by thefe fubtile, oily, or fulphurous Effluvia, which 

 no human Nole was ever able to do. 



We find the like Spirit in the Hound, who when put in the 

 Track which a Deer has lately been in, will follow the Steps of 

 that Deer thro' all crofs Paths of a thoufand others, and at lall 

 fingle out that individual Deer among a whole Herd of thofe Ani- 

 mals. 



I N Scotland are a fort of Dogs (in Colour generally red and fpotted 

 with black, or black with red) of extraordinary Sagacity, being, 

 as 'tisfaid, put upon the Scent, will purfue Thieves with Succefs; 



and the Ufe of them has been authorifed by the Magi ft rate ■ 



K 2 Niii/us 



