40 
NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
weight, which is more than six times as much as the mouse 
above ; and measures from nose to rump four inches and a quar- 
ter, and the same in its tail. We have had a very severe frost 
and deep snow this month. My thermometer was one day four- 
teen degrees and an 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 pro- 
digiously. There is reason to believe that some days were more 
severe than any since the year 1739-40. 
I am, &c. &c. 
LETTER XIV. To T. PENNANT, Esq. 
DEAR SIR, Selhorne, March 12, 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 considerable time : but, to obviate 
any inconvenience, 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 
stated), for the little animal could by no means thus support its weight. It is rather more 
insectivorous than the other species of the genus, flies and other insects being its favourite food, 
which it captures with great adroitness, springing after them to a considerable distance; and, in 
captivity, it displaj's very strikingly the hoarding instinct, so common among the rodent order 
of animals, always biting out the germ or growing part of each grain before storing it away, as 
is also done by ants, and I believe all other animals that have similar propensities. In the wild 
state, its ordinary drink is most probably the dew ; for, even in confir^ement, like many small birds, 
it certainly prefers to quench its thirst by sipping pendent drops of water. After drinking it alwaj-^s 
cleans its face, raising itself upon the hind feet, at which time its attitudes are often particularly 
graceful and elegant, being enabled to extend its body at a very considerable angle. It is aston- 
ishingly active, and the length of time it will continue turning the rotatory appendage in its 
cage, will surprise any person unaccustomed to behold it. It has but little of the disagreeable 
odour of the common mouse, and will live for several years in captivity, but, unless taken when 
quite young, it mostly continues shy and timorous, especially before strangers, even to its death 
With the exception of colour, and having rather smaller ears, its general aspect is very much that 
of the common mouse. — Ed. 
