Scent. 



6125 



Phys. 448). And it is almost certain that the same remark may be 

 extended so as to include at least all terrestrial creatures and not 

 a few of the aquatic. 



In a vast number of cases the peculiar smell, or scent, of an 

 animal is distinctly recognisable by the human organs of smell. I do 

 not mean simply in such notorious instances as those of the goat, the 

 fox, the foulmart, the pig, the sheep, the rat, the mouse, the horse, 

 and, by no means the least, man himself, but in a great number of 

 other instances when once our attention is attracted. The rook, the 

 starling, the dog, the cat, each has an odour distinctly recognisable 

 by us, while, as regards the creatures specially distinguished by the 

 appellation of game, I should think no one ever turned out the fresh 

 contents of a well-filled game-bag without being made aware that 

 partridges and grouse, hares and rabbits emit effluvia which must 

 needs appeal strongl}^ to the delicate and highly organized sense of 

 smell in the sporting-dog. How many insects, too, are not only per- 

 ceptibly odorous to us, but strongly or even disagreeably so ; the 

 gooseberry caterpillar for instance, the larva of the goat-moth, 

 the bed-bug, the cockroach, and so on without end. 



There is also, probably, a good deal of resemblance between the 

 scents given off by different animals. How often a very good pointer 

 who is allowed, or indeed required by his master, to point at other 

 game besides partridges, is misled, on the cultivated land, by a 

 common fowl, a lark, a watcrhen, or even sometimes one of the 

 smaller Conirostres ; on the moor by a golden plover or a titlark. 

 Many dogs too will point at snipe. I once saw one of mine make 

 such a point, and he seemed as much surprised at my shooting it as 

 if T had shot at a lark at which be had mistakenly pointed. I never 

 saw him point at another, nor willingly notice one when shot, though 

 1 had killed many couple at different times when he was with me. 

 Woodcocks he would point, but evidently considered, on ascertaining 

 what the fallen bird was, that both he and I had made a mistake, 

 though not such a disgraceful one as in the case of the snipe.* 



* It was, most evidently, a source of the keenest deligbt to this doq: to have to 

 hunt a wounded ]);nlrido^e, grouse, or pheasant: and the consummation of all was when 

 he had cau<iht the bird and held it in his mouth ; his eye, his tail, his whole hearing- 

 displayed extreme (rratificauon : a wounded snipe, however, he would not attempt to 

 hunt; a woodcock he would look at and smell, and then "turn up his nose;" a water- 

 hen, though apparently giviDjr out a stronfj scent, he seemed to rank with the wood- 

 cock ; a parhidgc ihat had fallen into the water, would be fetched out without a 

 pause of hesitation ; but by no means could he be induced to wet a foot for a water- 

 hen (ir wild duck. 



