162 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



which, though distasteful, can scarcely be looked upon as pro- 

 tective. The Giraffe possesses this quality, and Mr. Bryden 

 relates that when following one of these animals, his horse, 

 " hitherto the steadiest shooting pony in the world, had early in 

 the run got wind of the strong musky odour which all Giraffes 

 possess, and bored to the left hand, and I had a good deal of 

 trouble to persuade him to keep straight."* Mr. Thomson 

 suggests that among animals, at least, these odours may serve 

 as incense, or as stimulant — " but perhaps this usefulness is 

 secondary. "f An analysis of the evidence, I think, tends to show 

 that the protection thus afforded is partial, and not universal. 



Among plants, the Virginian Creeper (Ampelopsis quinque- 

 folia), so frequently planted to cover porches, palings, and walls, 

 develops flowers in midsummer which are very industriously and 

 eagerly visited by bees. The colour does not act as an allure- 

 ment in this case, for the flowers have green corollas, are hidden 

 away under the foliage, and cannot be seen even by good eyes at 

 a little distance. Yet the bees fly thither from all sides in such 

 a way as to leave no doubt that the flowers of the Ampelopsis can 

 be perceived by them a considerable way off. " Since it is not 

 their appearance, it must be their smell which announces their 

 presence. But to men they appear to be quite scentless. "J 

 This clearly goes to prove that the sense of smell is very differ- 

 ently developed in men and bees. The very smell of flowers is 

 subject to variation in response to the nature of the soil. This 

 was demonstrated by Dalibard (' Observations sur le Reseda a 

 fleur odorante').§ He planted mignonette in different soils, 

 using seeds from the same mignonette plant, possessing its well- 

 known fragrance. While the seeds sown in rich garden soil 

 became vigorous, and were well perfumed, the seeds sown in 

 sandy soil produced plants which remained weak and small, and 

 had no perfume. It even seems that the latter did not acquire 

 any odour when transferred to rich garden soil. " Similar facts 

 have since been repeatedly observed and noticed." || Another 



* ' Gun and Camera in Southern Africa,' p. 308. , 

 f ' Study of Animal Life,' 2nd edit. p. 105. 



I Kerner and Oliver, ' Nat. Hist. Plants,' vol. ii. p. 206. 

 § ' Mem. Math, et Phys. Acad, des Sci.' 1750, p. 95. 



II Cf. Varigny, 'Experimental Evolution,' p. 103. 



