NOTES ON SCENT. 
The sense of smell in many animals almost surpasses 
belief. The development of the nasal organ in the 
elephant is probably greater than in any other mammal. 
In passing through the jungle it is a very common occur- 
rence for the elephant to pick up even small articles that 
have been used by man, and hand them to the mahout. 
It is quite impossible, in many instances, that these 
articles could have been seen by the animals. The re- 
markable fact is that these beasts do not pick up, indis- 
criminately, any generally common every-day substances. 
The faculty of following the footsteps of men or other 
animals by scenting over the ground that has been 
traversed, although many hours may have passed before 
the animal came upon the track, is possessed by many of 
the varieties of the dog. 
Kuminants, such as many of the deer and antelope 
species, scent a man or a dog at very long distances, hence 
the sportsman endeavours to get to the windward of the 
animal he wishes to stalk. There is, so far as I know, only 
one peculiar power that I believe man possesses more 
acutely than any animal, and that is his quick discernment 
of burning ; no matter whether the substance on fire be 
animal or vegetable, the human being detects it, and at 
once is anxious to know its whereabouts. I don’t know 
any animal which appears to notice any sense of burning 
or takes any trouble about it except man. The only 
reason I can assign for this dread of fire in the human 
race, is, that to man it is one of the most important things 
known contributing to his existence, and one when not 
under his control that may lead to his destruction. 
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