NOTES ON SCENT. 



The sense of smell in many animals almost surpasses 

 belief. The development of the nasal organ in the 

 elephant is probably greater than in any other mammal. 

 In passing through the jungle it is a very common occur- 

 rence for the elephant to pick up even small articles that 

 have been used by man, and hand them to the mahout. 

 It is quite impossible, in many instances, that these 

 articles could have been seen by the animals. The re- 

 markable fact is that these beasts do not pick up, indis- 

 criminately, any generally common every-day substances. 



The faculty of following the footsteps of men or other 

 animals by scenting over the ground that has been 

 traversed, although many hours may have passed before 

 the animal came upon the track, is possessed by many of 

 the varieties of the dog. 



Ruminants, such as many of the deer and antelope 

 species, scent a man or a dog at very long distances, hence 

 the sportsman endeavours to get to the windward of the 

 animal he wishes to stalk. There is, so far as I know, only 

 one peculiar power that I believe man possesses more 

 acutely than any animal, and that is his quick discernment 

 of burning ; no matter whether the substance on fire be 

 animal or vegetable, the human being detects it, and at 

 once is anxious to know its whereabouts. I don't know 

 any animal which appears to notice any sense of burning 

 or takes any trouble about it except man. The only 

 reason I can assign for this dread of fire in the human 

 race, is, that to man it is one of the most important things 

 known contributing to his existence, and one when not 

 under his control that may lead to his destruction. 



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