The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-01
Sense of Smell I'm Dogs.

Mr. George j. Romanes has communicated to
the Lnnean Society the results OF series OF ex-
periments, made by him, TO test the strength
and acuteness of the sense of smell in dogs. The
paper Is reprinted in Nature. and will be FOUND
of interest and value He cites the case OF a ter
rier. who could not be throws off his masters
track upon the pavement of Regents Park, al
though this track was crossed and recrosseo by
hundreds of fresher ones, and by thousands
that were not so fresh To make test with
setter, the master had his men IN Indian ME,
and the gamekeeper brought up the rear OF the
line. Each man placed his feet in the footprints
of his predecessor.
the game keeper was freshest When they had
gone two hundred yards the master turned to
the right, followed by five OF the men, the otner
six turned to the left, keeping their usuai order.
The setter followed the common track with
such eagerness to overshoot the point OF d.
vergence, but quickly regaining this point
chose at once the track TO the right.
The master and a Stranger to the dog ex-
changed boots, and then went different ways.
The setter followed its masters boots, and found
the stranger.
When the master and stranger walked the
park with bare feet the setter followed its mas
ter's trail, but not with the eagerress with
which it followed the trail of his boots
When he walked in new shooting boots the
setter would not follow.
The master glued a single thickness of brown
paper to the soles and sides of his old shooting
boots The setter did not take tho trail. until it
came to a point where the paper. having worn
away the sole of one heel touched the ground.
Then the dog recognized the Trail At onco.
Walking in new cotton socks left no trail tnas
the setter could follow; in wooden socks that had
been worn day, the trail was followed, but not
eagerly.
The master walked fifty yards in his shooting
boots then kicked them off ana carried them
with him, while he walked in stockings three
hundred yards then he took off his socks and
walked another three hundred yards barefoot.
When the setter was put upon the track at the
outset, it followed with usual eagerness, and
kept up the pursuit through the whole distance.
Accompanied by stranger to the dog. the
master rode out along carriage-way, several
hundred yards from the house, then he alighted
and walked in his shooting boots fifty yards be-
side the carriage. He then entered the carriage
and bis friend got out and walked 800 yards
along the way. The setter ran the whole zoO
yards at full speed. without making any pause
at the point where the scent changed.
The master walked in his ordinary shooting
boots, having first soaked them in oil OF anise-
seed Although the odor of the anise-seed was
so strong as to be perceived by a friend an hour
after the trail was made the dog followed the
| track of its master, thus disguised, with usual
| speed, after having examined the first three OF
| four steps carefully.
Other experiments tested the power of scent
| through the air. The master walked down a
| trampled field, by zgzae course. for quarter
of a mile then turned to side. got over a
| stone wall, and walked back toward the house.
| The stone wa II was breast high and about 1OC
| Yards to the windward of his course down the
| field The dog taking the trail at the top of the
| field, followed rapidly its masters winding
course.
The moment il gained the winds eye of the
| place where he was standing, with only his eyes
| above the top of the wall, the dog threw up it,
head turned from the track it was following and
| went straight to its owner. And yet there were
| at the time several overheated laborers near i
| in the Did.