OF SELBORNE. 



71 



they can open two vents, one at the inner 

 corner of each eye, having a communica- 

 tion with the nose. Here seems to be an 

 extraordinary provision of nature w^orthy 

 our attention ; and which has not, that I 

 knov^ 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.* Mr. Ray observed 

 that, at Malta^ the owners slit up the nos- 

 trils of such asses as were hard worked : for 

 they, being naturally straight or small, did 



* 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 ana- 

 " logous 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." 



