FALLOW DEER. 41 



This curious formation of the head may be of singular sendee 



Fallow Deer. 



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

 doubt these additional nostrils are thrown open when they are 

 hard run.* Mr. Ray observed that, at Malta, the owners slit 



* In answer to this account, Mr. Pennant sent me the following curious and pertinent reply. 

 " I was much surprised to find in the antelope something 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 

 abut 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 smeli it through them." Note. Both 

 White, however, and his friend Pennant were here misled by appearances, for it turns out, upon 

 anatomical investigation, that there is no communication between these cavities and the nostrils, 

 they being rather the site of a peculiar secretion. See a paper " On the infra-orbital cavities in 

 Deer and Antelopes," by Dr. Jacob, read before the British Association in Dublin, in 1835, and 

 published in the " Edinburgh Philosophical Journal" for October, in that year, from which 1 

 quote the following: "A statement respecting these infra-orbital cavities has been made by the 

 Rev. Gilbert White, in his Natural History of Selborne,' which might appear to originate in 

 ome error, were it not supported by the more recent testimony of Major Hamilton Smith. These 

 gentlemen state that, when the deer drinks, the air is forced out through these .cavities, and, 

 according to Major Hamilton Smith, may be felt by the hand, and affects the flame of a candle 

 when held to it. Notwithstanding such a positive statement by two observers of established 

 character for faithful description, the passage of air through these cavities cannot take place, 

 they are perfectly impervious towards the nostril ; but 1 have no doubt that the fact stated is 

 correct, the air which escapes passing, not through the infra-orbital sacs, but through the lachry- 

 mal passages, which ate very large, consisting of two openings capable of admitting the end of 

 a crow's quill, the entrance to a tortuous canal, which conducts the tears to the extremity of the 

 nose. Introducing a pipe into the outlet of the nasal duct, at the extremity of the nose, I ca 

 without difficulty force a current of air or water through the nasal doct [Quere, lachrymal 

 sinus ? Ed.] ; and it therefore appears reasonable to admit that the effect, observed by the two 

 gentlemen alluded to, arose from the animal forcing the air into the nostrils while the nose and 

 mouth were immersed in water." ED. 



