XIV.] OF SELBORNE. 45 



half below the freezing point, within doors. The tender ever- 

 greens were injured pretty much. It was very providential that 

 the air was still, and the ground well covered with snow, else 

 vegetation in general must have suffered prodigiously. There is 

 reason to believe that some days were more severe than any 

 since the year 1739-40. 



SELBORNE, Jan. 22, 1768. 



LETTER XIV. 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQ. 



IF some curious gentleman would procure the head of a fallow 

 deer, and have it dissected, he would find it furnished with two 

 spiracula, or breathing-places, besides the nostrils ; probably 

 analogous to the puncta lachrymalia in the human head. When 

 deer are thirsty they plunge their noses, like some horses, very 

 deep under water while in the act of drinking, and continue 

 them in that situation for a considerable time : but to obviate 

 any iuconvenieiicy, they can open two vents, one at the inner 

 corner of each eye, having a communication with the nose. Here 

 seems to be an extraordinary provision of nature worthy our 

 attention ; and which has not, that I know of, been noticed by 

 any naturalist. For it looks as if these creatures would not be 

 suffocated though both their mouths and nostrils were stopped. 

 This curious formation of the head may be of singular service to 

 beasts of chase, by affording them free respiration : and no doubt 

 these additional nostrils are thrown open when they are hard 

 run. 1 Mr. Ray observed that at Malta the owners slit up the 

 nostrils of such asses as were hard worked : for they being 



1 In answer to this account, Mr. Pennant sent me the following curious 

 and pertinent reply : " I was much surprised to find in the antelope some- 

 thing analogous to what you mention as so remarkable in deer. This animal 

 also has a long slit beneath each eye, which can be opened and shut at 

 pleasure. On holding an orange to one, the creature made as much use of 

 those orifices as of his nostrils, applying them to the fruit, and seeming to 

 smell it through them." WHITE. 



