I 74 Notes and News. [April 



Finally, the fact that the birds failed to find the source of the stench, and 

 "gave up the search" after staying about "for an hour or two," is totally 

 irreconcilable with the possession of such powers of scent as would en- 

 able them to detect the same odor at a distance of more than two miles. 



If the space can be spared, I should be glad, in a future number of 'The 

 Auk,' to discuss this subject further, and to give a brief resume' of the 

 evidence on both sides of the question. 



Respectfully, 

 Washington, D. C, March 4, 1SS7. Walter B. Barrows. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



Dr. John M. Wheaton, one of the original members of the A. O. U. 

 and well known as an ornithologist, died at his residence in Columbus, 

 Ohio, January 2S. after protracted illness from consumption, at the age of 

 forty-six. Dr. Wheaton has for many years been an occasional contribu- 

 tor to current ornithological literature; his principal work, however, was 

 a report on the Birds of Ohio, published in 1882, in the fourth volume of 

 the Geological Report of the State of Ohio.* His unrivalled collection of 

 the birds of Ohio is now at the State University. Dr. Wheaton was born 

 at Columbus, and was educated at Davison University; he afterward 

 studied medicine, graduating from the Starling Medical College in 1SS4, 

 and immediately after entered the army as an assistant surgeon. In 1867 

 he was made Professor of Anatomy in the Starling Medical College, which 

 position he held till his death. He was also a trustee of the college, and 

 secretary of the board. He was a successful physician, a teacher of recog- 

 nized ability, and held in high esteem by all who knew him. He leaves a 

 wife and a son nine years of age. Dr. Wheaton's death is the first that 

 has occurred among the Active Members of the A. O. U. 



Congress has appropriated $12,000 for carrying on the work of the 

 Department of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy for the year 

 ending June 30, 18SS. Now that the adjournment of Congress has brought 

 some relief to the Government Printing Office, it is hoped that some of 

 the long-expected special reports of the Department will soon be put in 

 type. 



scent in Vultures, as published in Volume IV of that work. The criticism, which was 

 by Mr. Sayles, embodied all the facts since published by him in 'The Auk,' and much 

 additional matter on various subjects. In connection with the particular instance cited 

 above.it was there distinctly stated that a flock of Buzzards was no unusual sight on the 

 plantation, and that nothing was thought of it in this case until they were seen wheel- 

 ing about the open wood-shed (the italics are mine) where, during the night, the pot of 

 offal had been upset by the dogs. 

 * For a review of this work see Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Vol. VIII, p. no. 



