SOME REMARKABLE SMELLS 



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some power of manufacturing distinct odorous bodies from 

 inodorous nutritive matter assimilated by them, it is 

 probable that in many cases the odour which is characteristic 

 of an animal is derived by no very complicated change 

 from odorous bodies existing in its habitual food. 



A curious case of a substance valued as perfume by 

 civilised man, and yet coming from a source whence sweet 

 odours would hardly be expected, is that which is known 

 as " ambergris," or " aimbre gris " (grey amber). It is still 

 used in the manufacture of esteemed perfumes, and is sold 

 at five guineas the ounce. It is found floating on the 

 surface of the ocean, and is a concretion of imperfectly 

 digested matter from the intestine of a whale — probably 

 the sperm-whale. It is a grey, powdery substance, and in 

 it are embedded innumerable fragments of the horny beaks 

 and sucker-rings of cuttle-fishes — creatures which form the 

 chief food of the sperm-whale and other toothed whales. 

 I have already mentioned above that one of our common 

 cuttle-fishes (the Eledone moschntd) has a strong odour of 

 musk and it is possible that ambergris owes its perfume to 

 the musk-like scent of the cuttle-fish eaten by the whale 

 in whose intestine it is formed. Another " smell " which is 

 extremely mysterious is that produced by two quartz- 

 pebbles, or even two rock-crystals, or two pebbles of 

 flint or of corundum, when rubbed one against the 

 other. A flash of light is seen, and this is accompanied 

 by a very distinct smell, like that given out by burning 

 cotton-wool. It is demonstrated — by careful chemical 

 cleaning before the experiment — that this is not due to 

 the presence of any organic matter on or in the stones 

 or crystals used. It seems to be an exception to the 

 rule that " odours " (as distinct from pungent vapours or 

 gases) are only produced by substances formed by plants 

 or animals. Perhaps that is not so completely a rule as I 

 was inclined to think. It is true that one can distinguish 



