Jill Kassube, age 14, of Calgary, Alta., Canada, for her question:

DO BIRDS HAVE NOSTRILS?

A bird's nostrils are two small slits in his beak. But he uses them only to take in air and to sift some of the debris from the air he breathes. His bright eyes are sharp and accurate, and certain birds have the best vision of all animals. His ears are hidden out of sight among his feathers, though as a rule his hearing is very keen. The average bird, however, has little sense of taste and hardly any sense of smell at all.

It may seem a pity to miss the scent of fragrant flowers and fresh breezes. But there is another side to the story. Most birds also miss the horrible smells. Experts are not sure about the vultures and buzzards who feed on rotting meat. Certain tests hint that perhaps these birds can sniff their foul smelling food from afar. But in any case, the average bird has nostrils  but no sniffer worth mentioning.