21 0 
FIFTH REPORT— 1835. 
Smith. These gentlemen state that when the deer drinks, the 
air is forced out through these cavities, and according to Major 
Hamilton Smith may be felt by the hand, and affects the flame 
of a candle, when held to it. Notwithstanding such a positive 
statement by two observers of established character for faithful 
description, the passage of air through these cavities cannot take 
place; they are perfectly impervious toward the nostril: but I 
have no doubt that the fact stated is correct. The air seen to 
escape passes, not through the infraorbital sacs, but through 
the lachrymal passages, which are very large, consisting of two 
openings capable of admitting the end of a crow’s quill, the 
entrance to a tortuous canal which conducts the tears to the 
extremity of the nose. Introducing a pipe into the outlet of the 
nasal duct at the extremity of the nose, I can without difficulty 
force a current of air or water through the nasal duct, and it 
therefore appears reasonable to admit that the effect observed 
by the two gentlemen alluded to arose from the animal forcing 
the air into the nostrils while the mouth and nose were 
immersed in water. Even in the human subject, air may be 
forced up the nasal duct into the lachrymal sac by filling the 
cavities of the nose from the lungs while the nostrils are closed 
by the hand. 
Persons following up this investigation should be aware that 
these sinuses exist in a very imperfect state in many species, 
being in fact merely rudimental and incapable of affording the 
secretion which they are destined to provide in others. The 
last traces of the organ may even be detected in goats, sheep, 
and perhaps all the ruminants. It is a beautiful example of 
that adherence to an original type or model which is so conspi¬ 
cuous in animal organization, and as if in obedience to a law, 
that all the ruminants should be provided with a sinus beneath 
the eye for the secretion of a peculiar odoriferous matter, but 
that it should remain in an imperfect or unfinished state in those 
who do not require such additional aid to distinguish sex or re¬ 
cognise species. 
The authorities quoted are Muff on in the original 4to edition, 
tom. vi. and Suppl. tom. iii. ; Pallas, Spicilegia Zoological 
White's Natural History of Selhurne ; the supplementary vo¬ 
lume of Griffith’s Translation of Cuvier On the Ruminants , by 
Major Charles Hamilton Smith; and Camper, CEuvres , tom. L 
