6124 



Scent. 



rare exactly in proportion to their size, rare both in species and in 

 individuals ; in four years' almost daily search in the Eastern forests I 

 have never found a large Prionus myself, and 1 have collected 

 nearly four thousand species of Coleoptera : such collections as those 

 of Mr. Bates and myself, made in such distant countries (both gene- 

 rally considered among the richest in large species), are what show 

 the true nature of tropical insects, and I believe that a careful 

 examination of these will lead to the conclusion that there is no 

 superiority whatever in the average size of tropical Coleoptera over 

 those of temperate climates, and that in many groups the latter have 

 the decided advantage. 



A. R. Wallace. 



Scent: an atientpt to explain its Properties and Causes. 

 By the Rev. J. C. Atkinson, M.A. 



It is my purpose in the following remarks to record a few obser-- 

 vations on the subject of Scent, with the view of leading, if possible, to 

 further observation and inquiry into a matter generally thought, 

 1 believe, to be involved in a good deal of obscurity and uncertainty. 



By scent is implied what is assumed to be an odour emanating 

 from any specified member or members of the animal kingdom ; and 

 is, in sporting language, so far restricted in its sense as to be applied 

 almost exclusively in the case of such animals as are the objects of 

 pursuit in the chase or by the shooter; and, almost as exclusively, 

 with reference to the olfactory powers of some one or other of 

 the varieties of the dog. However, in attempting to institute an 

 inquiry into the nature or peculiarities of Scent, it will be certainly 

 most convenient, and possibly quite necessary, to include under that 

 term the odorous emanations proceeding from any animal whatever, 

 and perceptible to the sense of smell in any other animal whatever. 



It is probably true that there is no existing animal without its own 

 peculiar scent. Thus, ''in most Mammalia," says Dr. Carpenter, 



an odoriferous secretion, characteristic of the particular species, is 

 formed by glandulae which pour out their product on some part of the 

 surface, their situation however being extremely variable in the 

 different tribes; this secretion is usually formed most abundantly at 

 the period of sexual excitement, and appears to be concerned in the 

 attraction of the sexes towards each other.'' (General and Comp. 



