NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 43 



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.f Mr. Ray observed that at 

 Malta the owners slit up the nostrils of such asses as were hard 

 worked : for they, being naturally straight or small, did not admit 

 air sufficient to serve them when they travelled, or laboured, in that 

 hot climate. And we know that grooms, and gentlemen of the turf, 

 think large nostrils necessary, and a perfection, in hunters and 

 running horses. 



Oppian, the Greek poet, by the following line, seems to have had 

 some notion that stags have four spiracula : 



TriavptQ Trvotrjffi diavXoi." 



" Quadrifidce nares, quadruplices ad respirationem canales." 



OPP. CYN. Lib. ii. 1. 181. 



Writers, copying from one anotaer, make Aristotle say that goats 

 breathe at their ears ; whereas he asserts just the contrary : " AXr- 

 fjtauttv yap OVK a\r}9r) Xfyei, <pa.(jitvo avairvtiv rag a/yag fcara ra wrote." 

 " Alctnaeon does not advance what is true, when he avers that goats 

 breathe through their ears." " History of Animals." Book I. 

 chap. xi. 



* This short letter is devoted entirely to one subject, to which White's attention was 

 most probably directed by his visits to the deer in Wolmer Forest ; it is one of those which 

 requires explanation, especially in a popular work so much read as "Selborne," and the 

 very error into which White has fallen with his remarks will lead to the future explana- 

 tion of a structure which even at this time is not completely understood. The statement 

 in the letter, " When deer are thirsty," &c., is quite correct so far as " they plunge their 

 noses," but the nostril is then not used, and the whole will is exerted in quenching a thirs' 

 at the time excessive. These other orifices are glandular cavities, and 3 far as we know 

 or can judge, have reference to the season of rutting, and have no connexion whatever 

 with respiration. They exist in greater or less development in all the deer and antelopes, 

 and also in the common sheep, and a peculiar secretion may be seen to exude from it, 

 having also a peculiar odour. Some animals have glandular secretions in other parts of 

 the body musk, civet, zibet, &c. known as perfumes, and the peculiar utilities of these 

 glands, except in secreting a strong scent, is unknown. 



t 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 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." 



