230 Mr. J. H. Gurney 07i the [Ibis, 



later, but there is no need to withhold the experience o£ one 

 of the best-versed Norfolk wildfowlers, James Vincent. 

 Mr. Vincent has long since satisfied himself that on the 

 large Broads, diving ducks, such as the Tufted Duck {Fuli- 

 gula cristata) and Pochard {F.ferhia), are easily approached 

 down wind with a man's scent blowing to them, and Coots 

 also, but he is careful to add that this does not apply to 

 Mallard and Teal. 



Mr. Chapman goes on to say something about African 

 Guineafowl (JYumida) , adding as the result of his experience 

 in lying up for these birds as well as for Sand-Grouse 

 {Fterocles) and Francolin, which he had often done> that 

 none of them ever gave the least indication of detecting the 

 human presence by their nostrils. It is true this is but 

 negative evidence, but it is confirmed by Stevenson- 

 Hamilton *, another African sportsman, and coming from 

 two practical men it can hardly be set aside. Mr. Chapman 

 does not allow the olfactory organ to be a safeguard to any 

 Game-birds, but here he is in direct opposition to Xavier 

 Raspail, whose evidence will come later (1) f. The circum- 

 stances under wdiich their observations were made may 

 account for a good deal of difference. As regards other 

 groups of birds, the evidence is in many cases confiicting ; 

 but certainly there are some species which, so far as can be 

 judged, exhibit no powers of scent at all. 



With the great family of waders — Curlew, Godwits, 

 Dotterel, Knots, Plover, &c. — it is difficult to say whether 

 they do or do not scent the presence of danger, for most of 

 these birds are so much on the alert at all times, and have 

 marvellous sight and hearing. Mr. Chapman makes a 

 curious remark about the Curlew [Numenius arquata)^ viz., 

 that while on the inland moors of Northumberland, its 

 scenting capacity is, or seems to be, negligible, on the 

 coast it quickly becomes keenly sensitive. In this con- 

 nection, the views of Dr. F. G. Penrose % and Mr. J. E. 



* ' Animal Life iu Africa,' p. 290. 



t See bibliography at the end of the paper. 



X ' British Birds/ vi. p. 266. 



1 



