218 THE SENSES OF ANIMALS 



to having heard, felt, or seen a prisoner ; but when was 

 a criminal convicted because somebody recognised his 

 aroma ? 



With wild, and even with domesticated animals, it is 

 quite different. Their nostrils remain vitally important 

 channels of guidance, warning, recognition, and general 

 information. In the case in point, a Cheviot lamb had 

 fallen into the river and could not get out by reason of 

 a steep, overhanging bank. A passing angler rescued 

 the shivering creature from its plight, and it staggered 

 away, bleating piteously for its dam. It found her with- 

 out much difficulty, and immediately applied to the 

 natural source of that refreshment whereof it stood in 

 sore need; but the mother sheep, sniffing disdainfully 

 at the dripping little wretch, pushed it off, refusing to 

 recognise it. The shepherd happening to come up at the 

 moment, the angler asked the cause of the dam's un- 

 natural behaviour. 



' Oh,' said he, ' the bit beastie 's been in the watter, ye 

 see, and the ewe canna smell it. She '11 tak it back as 

 soon as it 's dry.' 



And so it turned out. A few minutes in the keen 

 March wind served to dry the short fleece ; the natural 

 odour returned; mother and child were reconciled at 

 once, and celebrated the occasion with much tail- 

 wriggling and eager pokes on the prodigal's part and 

 patient hospitality on the part of the parent. Sheep 

 can hear and see very well, yet neither the features 

 nor voice of her offspring enabled this Cheviot ewe to 



in Central and Western China, that the natives of those regions, a fine 

 race, not only never use milk as food, but regard with some disgust those 

 who do so. They detect and dislike the odour of it in Europeans, who, 

 they say, smell of the cow. 



