48 SPIRACULA OF ANIMALS. 



while in the act of drinking, and continue them in 

 that situation for a considerable time; but, to 

 obviate any inconveniency, 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 addi- 

 tional 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 naturally strait 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 gentle- 

 men 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 : 



oi, piveg, TTiffvpeg Tr 

 Quadrifidse nares, quadruplices ad respirationem canales." 

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



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 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." 



