248 Mr. J. H. Guriiey on the [Ibis, 



ratio as a Raven. To some species smel! would be an 

 invaluable property, to others of no consequence, and most 

 likely they do not have it, for nature does not grant her 

 gifts where they can be of no use. 



But what can it be that regulates the mystery. Does the 

 answer lie in any particular area inhabited, in the season 

 of the year, in the state of the atmosphere, in the physical 

 condition of the bird itself, or in the nature of the food 

 on which it is dependent ? Here we are at a loss, and 

 conjecture is of little avail. 



I'he Theory of a Food-finding Sense. — There is another 

 matter without some reference to which this article would 

 be very incomplete. What I allude to is a novel theory 

 which has been propounded more than once, and which 

 is gaining ground, 1 believe — viz., that there exists in 

 birds an occult power which may be denominated a food- 

 finding sense, separate from and additional to the five 

 senses commonly recognised. The principal exponent of 

 this bold theory is a naturalist of the United States^ 

 Mr. H. H. Beck, and it must be aduiitted that he has made 

 out a plausible case for what on the face of it seems a not 

 improbable solution of many difficulties (9). 



If the principle of this theory be accepted, the necessitv 

 for any employment either of scent or sight is almost done 

 away with ; the Raven is free to find its carcase, the Rook 

 its potatoes, the Woodpecker its caterpillars, without any 

 olfactory help at all. At the same time, if there be such a 

 thing as a food-finding sense of this kind, it is undoubtedly 

 safer to regard it as an adjunct to the known senses of 

 seeing, smelling, and hearing rather than as a separate 

 faculty. 



Unquestionably Mr. Beck, in advancing his theory, is 

 justified in laying stress on the probability of animals below 

 man having retained some things which have been dissipated 

 in the gradual rise of humanity ; on that head he will find 

 many to agree with him. 



Thus it is quite reasonable to think that birds may have 

 kept in a most efficient form something which human beings 



