52 INSECT MISCELLANIES, 



the river Ganges, and that during the north-east 

 monsoon, when the wind blew steadily from one 

 point of the compass for months in succession. It 

 was extremely difficult to imagine that the effluvium 

 from the body in the water could stream off in direct 

 opposition to the wind, so as to be perceived by birds 

 many miles distant. It has been ascertained, by 

 direct experiments, that where very putrid carrion 

 was enclosed in a basket, through which the effluvium 

 could penetrate, while it was concealed from sight, 

 it attracted not the notice of birds of prey ; but when 

 it was exposed to view, crowds of them came rapidly 

 from different quarters of the horizon, where they 

 were invisible a few minutes before. This is most 

 rationally accounted for from their soaring at an alti- 

 tude beyond our sight, though they can thence discern 

 their prey.* 



The discovery of distant water by the camel 

 seems to depend on the sense of smell. | In Dr 

 Stewart Traill's account of the captivity of Scott 

 among the Moors of the Sahara, we are told that 

 the camels of the caravan discovered the approach of 

 a wolf at the distance of iialf a mile ; and that they 

 can also smell a tiger at a great distance, which is 

 known by their refusing to advance, and their putting 

 themselves in an attitude of defence. J The elephant 

 is said to have a similar faculty of smelling out a tiger. 

 The late Lord Clive exhibited a combat between two 

 of these animals, at Calcutta ; but at first nothing 

 could allure or force the elephant to advance along the 

 road, where the cage containing the tiger had passed, 

 till a gallon of arrack was given, when, his horror sud- 

 denly turning to fury, he broke down the paling to get 

 at his enemy, and killed him without difficulty. 



* Medico-Chirurgical Review for Dec, 1828. 

 t See Menageries, vol. i. t Edinb. Phil. Journ. 1820. 



