VIII 



An explanation and apology postponed — Smell in birds — An 

 ancient controversy — The vulture's two aspects — The way 

 of the vulture — Pigeons — Smell in crows — Daws and ravens 

 — Carrion crow — The rook's double nature — An uncanny 

 rook story — Panic fear in mammals — Horses and cattle 

 scenting grass and water — Great stampedes preceding 

 Indian invasions — Indian warfare in Argentina — A little 

 frontier tragedy. 



WHEN I ended the last chapter before quite 

 finishing with all I had to say concerning 

 the sense of smell, it occurred to me that 

 I had touched upon certain subjects amidst which 

 it behoves one to step warily. I mentioned anti- 

 pathies, pre-natal suggestion, and in a chapter 

 further back, even telepathy, and it then struck 

 me that it would be best to make a long pause 

 and introduce a digression which would occupy 

 an entire chapter, and would serve once for all as 

 my explanation and apology for introducing such 

 questions in the book of a simple field naturalist. 

 But after writing the chapter I thought better of it, 

 and determined to keep strictly to the subject of 

 smelling to the finish and drop the apology for the 

 time being. At present I shall only say that these 

 are delicate and controversial subjects, also that it 

 becomes me in treating of them to express myself 

 with the humility proper to an amateur, practically 



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