CONCERNING ODOURS, 62-64 



phenomenon is the special condition of the animal 

 at such periods : for at these times even those 

 males which are not breeding have the smell, and 

 the sterile goats and the females in general. In- 

 deed, though at that particular time the fact that 

 animals are actually breeding is a powerful factor in 

 producing the smell, yet their condition is in itself 

 a cause. 



Similar sympathetic behaviour is found in a 

 manner in other things also. Thus wine appears to 

 ' bloom ' l at the same time as the growing grape, and 

 stored garlic and onions appear to have the most 

 pungent smell at the season when those 2 in the 

 ground are sprouting : however in this case sprouting 

 takes place in the stored vegetables also. And in 

 general any plant whose root is in layers 3 or fleshy 

 becomes active at the season of sprouting, unless it 

 has been completely dried : for it is the force latent 

 in such plants which is stirred into activity. But 

 the most remarkable phenomenon of the kind is 

 what occurs with bears' grease : it makes active 

 growth at the time of the bear's winter sleep 4 and 

 completely fills the vessels in which it is kept. 



Of odours as compared with other sense-impressions. 



XIV. What can be the reason why Democritus, 

 though he assigns various flavours to the sense of 

 taste, yet does not in like manner assign various 

 smells and colours to the senses to which they 

 belong ? According to his system he should have 

 done so. Perhaps the same criticism should apply 

 to all who have dealt with the subject : for they all 



in this matter : his version (coctas uraorum carries) adds to 

 the marvel. 



383 



