1882.] Jottings on Odours , and their Recognition. 519 
truth by its immediate applicability and market-value. Of 
all the mistakes of our nation none is likely to cost us so 
dear. 
Prof. Owen and Dr. Wilks have, each in his own depart- 
ment, done good service in combatting the Bestiarian mania. 
Mr. Lawson Tait has, in our opinion, completely failed in 
making out his case. We profoundly regret the tendency 
which he shows to import into the “ vivisection ” question 
the spirit of party politics. 
III. JOTTINGS ON ODOURS, AND THEIR 
RECOGNITION. 
By J. W. Slater. 
S HERE are some points connected both with the appreci- 
ation and production of odours of animals which seem 
to require further consideration. It is generally agreed 
that all species, possessing the sense of smell at all, like and 
are attracted by the odour of their usual food, or of sub- 
stances of an analogous nature. We have also evidence 
that animals are agreeably impressed by the specific odour 
of their own species, or, in the case of widely-modified 
forms, of their own race or strain, and especially of indivi- 
duals of the opposite sex. On the other hand, they are dis- 
gusted and repelled by the emanations of hostile species. 
These are the results which we might expeCt on evolutionist 
principles, and which we actually observe, whether we 
ascribe them to Prof. Jager’s soul-particles or not. At the 
same time we observe a few faCts which we cannot well 
account for on the above-mentioned principles. I take as 
an instance the feline family. The natural food of all such 
creatures is, indeed, the flesh and blood of recently-killed 
animals ; but in case of need they devour n'ot merely carrion, 
but even excrementitious matter, and sometimes dig up the 
remains of the dead in cemeteries. We should naturally 
think that creatures capable of consuming such food must 
have preferences for odours not merely unlike, but totally 
