36 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE, 
I measured them, and found that, from nose to tail, they were 
just two inches and 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 domestic mouse 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 ther- 
mometer 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 XIV. 
SELBORNE, March rath, 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 lachrymal ducts 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 con- 
tinue 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 
