38 Birds of Lakeside and Prairie 



for their taste and smell. I had ample evidence of the cura- 

 tive powers of the waters, but I must say that the fountain- 

 heads make their presence known long before you come 

 within sight of their bubbling water. The gem-like Maryland 

 yellow throat will build its nest in the heart of an ill-smelling 

 skunk-cabbage. This is one of the arguments advanced for 

 the absence of the olfactory nerve in some birds. If those 

 who adduce this yellow-throat habit to substantiate their 

 theory could see, as I have seen, the cardinal, the robin, and 

 the crow blackbird drinking with apparent relish of water that 

 smelled to heaven and beyond, they would consider their 

 point proven beyond the peradventure of a doubt. 



