40 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



1 



a quarter, and their tails just two inches long. Two of 

 them, in a scale, weighed down just one copper halfpenny, 

 which is about the third of an ounce avoirdupois : so that I 

 suppose they are the smallest quadrupeds in this island. A 

 full-grown Mus medius domesticus weighs, I find, one ounce 

 lumping weight, which is more than six times as much as 

 the mouse above ; and measures from nose to rump four 

 inches and a quarter, and the same in its tail. We have 

 had a very severe frost and deep snow this month. My 

 thermometer was one day fourteen degrees and a half below 

 the freezing-point, within doors. The tender evergreens 

 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. 



LETTER XIY. 



Selborne, Ifarch 12th, 1768. 



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 con- 

 siderable time : but, to obviate any inconveniency, they can 

 open two vents, one at the inner corner of each eye, having 



