SMELL. 407 



ciently established by the observations and ex- 

 periments of Mr. Audubon, that these birds in 

 reality possess the sense of smell in a degree 

 very inferior to carnivorous quadrupeds ; and 

 that so far from guiding them to their prey from 

 a distance, it affords them no indication of its 

 presence, even when close at hand. The follow- 

 ing experiments appear to be perfectly con- 

 clusive on this subject. Having procured the 

 skin of a deer, Mr. Audubon stuffed it full of 

 hay ; and after the whole had become perfectly 

 dry and hard, he placed it in the middle of an 

 open field, laying it down on its back, in the 

 attitude of a dead animal. In the course of a 

 few minutes afterwards, he observed a vulture 

 flying towards it, and alighting near it. Quite un- 

 suspicious of the deception, the bird immediately 

 proceeded to attack it, as usual, in the most vul- 

 nerable points. Failing in his object, he next, 

 with much exertion, tore open the seams of the 

 skin, where it had been stitched together, and 

 appeared earnestly intent on getting at the flesh, 

 which he expected to find within, and of the 

 absence of which, not one of his senses was able 

 to inform him. Finding that his efforts, which 

 were long reiterated, led to no other result than 

 the pulling out large quantities of hay, he at 

 length, though with evident reluctance, gave up 

 the attempt, and took flight in pursuit of other 

 game to which he was led by the sight alone, 



