On the power given to the quail of withholding that peculiar odour which betrays it to the dog.

Wilmington, Del, Oct. 14,1829.

Mr. Editor,

A close scrutiny of every subject in natural history-discloses some marvellous power given to inferior creatures for their preservation from the hostility of man and his various and numerous agents. It is surprising how many striking facts are forced upon us for contemplation, before any doctrine is thoroughly admitted as truth. How long, for instance, has it been observed, and with regret by sportsmen, that the best dogs could not discover certain birds of value, such as quails, in places where they were seen to settle by themselves; and yet years have rolled away without a single individual advancing the only rational idea of the proper cause. The truth never reached them that these persecuted little creatures had been granted the power of withholding odour to preserve them from their ruthless destroyers. Noble dogs have been censured as wanting or careless, when the often repeated fact, in almost every day's hunt, made it manifest that the fault did not lay with them. Many years ago I noticed this fact, and after frequent and earnest observation I adopted the conclusion already given.

I will state some of my observations and experiments.

Precise dates are of no consequence, as the facts are general and open to the study of all who are interested. It is now twenty years since I was, one day, in company with my friend and companion, the late learned ornithologist, Alexander Wilson, assisting him in his endeavours after the birds of this country. We encountered a well-appointed party of gentlemen who were shooting quails. They had seven dogs, apparently of the best quality. The party were in a large stubble-field, having small patches of low bushes and briars in several places. From one of these was flushed a very large covey of quails, which, after having been vigorously fired upon, settled nearly in the centre of the field, in a place slightly depressed, where the stubble was unusually high, with rank clover underneath. The sportsmen pursued with due caution, giving the proper instructions and ample time to the dogs. Some of the birds were put up and killed, but not near as many as had taken refuge there. After considerable search the party left the ground. The deep interest I took in this (to me) new and animating scene, was the cause of my becoming a keen sportsman. Why so few of the birds were roused puzzled me exceedingly, and I, in common with every one, censured the dogs. Immediately- adjacent to this stubble, was a body of open woodland, in which Mr. Wilson was several hours engaged in his usual ardent study into the habits and manners of a number of small birds sporting in it. On our return homeward we crossed the stubble, directly past the spot where the quails had been hunted-by the sportsmen. As we approached it, a bird flew up, and soon after another, and another, until five went off. I expressed my surprise to Mr. Wilson, who dismissed the matter, by supposing, that the stronger scent from the feet of so ninny men had transcended that of the birds, and bewildered the.dogs. Having been an anxious witness of the whole scene, I was not satisfied with this explanation, but believed the dogs to have been in fault.

After the lapse of a few years I became exceedingly given to field sports, and Was in possession of several fine dogs. It often happened that my dogs could not find quails, even when I had marked the settle and conducted them to it, especially when the cover was of thick and matted grass. In 1821,1 obtained a pup of high pedigree and took the charge of his education upon myself. No animal of his kind ever surpassed him; but even with him I was often unable to flush a scared quail. I now first admitted the idea that these birds were endued with the occasional power of holding that effluvia which exposed them to their direst enemy. My remarks were general, but tended to strengthen the opinion I had adopted. For instance, I excursed very many times with large parties, where there might be said to be a pack of dogs, from (heir number, and most of them approved hunters. Often have I seen in large clearings five or six coveys of quails flushed, amounting probably to a hundred birds, and although scarcely a brace of them would leave the open ground, not more than a fifth part of them could be recovered. The sportsmen did not seem to me to think of the cause of their failure, and no one would disparage the truth of the charming Venuses, Junos, Dianas, and Coras, so sedulously engaged for his amusement After such a field, I have made it a practice to return alone to it, after the lapse of sufficient time, and I always found that the birds had not left it; hut that having resumed their natural or usual habits, were easily flushed. In October, 1824,1 became assured of the truth of my doctrine, I was then in company with five gentlemen in a fine quail country. We had eleven dogs (setters and pointers) of approved value. The party concluded to range a field or two before breakfast,'but I did not go out with them. I soon heard very rapid firing in a new cleared ground, in sight of the tavern house. I hurried to join the sportsmen. There was a small strip of meadow-land, and a little brook intervening between us. On the margin of this meadow stood a large pine stump covered with running dewberry vines and surrounded by small oak shrubs. I was within sixty yards of it, and parallel to it, when two quails came directly towards me, across the meadow. Having but one barrel charged, I fired upon the nearest bird and killed it. The other made a sudden dart from its line, and took refuge among the shrubs and briars about the stump. I had my favourite dog and a very valuable pointer slut with me; having re-charged, I approached in guard upon the marked bird; but the dogs gave no poin. This was the proper time to test my belief. I therefore called off the dogs, and waited until I could have every one on the ground brought to the spot. This was done, but there was no intimation given that there was a bird near us. We left the ground without remark or explanation, and retired to breakfast. In an hour we took the field for the day. I requested the gentlemen to indulge me again by an advance upon the stump, leading the van myself with the pointer slut; she instantly pointed, and the other dogs backed her; the bird was flushed and shot. I now explained myself fully, and Mr. Edward Tilghman, well known to most American sportsmen, was greatly struck with it. He expressed great pleasure loo at it, as he said it would save many valuable animals from unmerited censure. He told me. moreover, that he had more than once noticed the same fact with partridge and grouse. I think it highly probable that these birds are endowed with the same power; but I have not had sufficient experience to speak of them with any certainty. Last week, in one of our steamboats, Colonel S. B. Davis, formerly of the United States Army, a great sportsman in his day, asked me, without any previous conversation on the subject, why the best dogs could not sometimes find a single quail in open ground ? The fact was forced upon him, but he had not thought of the solution here advanced. Yours, respectfully,

Samuel B. Smith, M. D.