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 



"9 



