628 R. M. STRONG 
view. The description of this experiment would suggest that the 
meat was finally smelled, though one may also infer that the olfac- 
tory sense was probably not extremely keen in these birds. 
Darwin himself concluded that ‘‘the evidence in favor of, and 
against, the acute smelling powers of carrion-vultures is singularly 
balanced,” but he evidently believed that these birds find their 
food by sight. 
Experiments of a different nature were conducted by Hill 
(05) with a pair of turkeys. He employed a number of odors 
including many which should produce strong stimulation of nerves 
of general sensation, under the conditions of the experiments. 
Such substances as asafoetida, essence of anise, oil of lavender, 
valerianate of zinc, powdered camphor, chloroform, etc., were 
placed very near, or upon, one of two piles of food located 
in an enclosure into which the turkeys were admitted when they 
were to be fed. A number of trials were made to see whether 
the birds would make their choice of a pile of food because of the 
presence or absence of one of the odorous materials, but with 
negative results. No evidence of discrimination appeared, and 
even the fumes of prussic acid, though causing the bird to stagger, 
did not drive it from the first pile of food it happened to choose. 
Laboratory experiments were conducted by Rouse (’05), who 
observed the respiratory movements of pigeons when in the pres- 
ence of oil of bergamot and lily of the valley. No ‘appreciable 
reactions’ to these materials were noticed, but a ‘slight sensitive- 
ness was shown to asafoetida,’ and ‘marked reaction’ was produced 
by turpentine and ammonia. The writer recognized, however, 
that the reactions obtained may have been due to other than olfac- 
tory stimuli. 
On the other hand, evidence has been obtained by Beebe (09) 
at Bronx Zoological Park, New York, that the turkey vulture 
has a sense of smell. The following is taken from his account 
(pp. 467-8) of experiments with turkey and black vultures: 
Three boxes were placed on the ground some distance apart, and the 
birds fed for a few days in various parts of the cage. Then after several 
days of fasting, a piece of tainted meat was placed under the central 
box. Care was taken to go through the farce of placing something 
