SELBORNE, _March 12th_, 1768.
Dear Sir,--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 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 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 nostrils of such asses as were hard worked: for
they, being naturally straight or small, did not admit air sufficient to
serve them when they travelled, or laboured, in that hot climate. And we
know that grooms, and gentlemen of the turf, think large nostrils
necessary, and a perfection, in hunters and running horses.
Oppian, the Greek poet, by the following line, seems to have had some
notion that stags have four spiracula:
"Τετράδυμοι ῥινὲς, πίσυρες πνοίῃσι δίαυλοι.."
"Quadrifidae nares, quadruplices ad respirationem canales."
OPP. CYN. Lib. ii. 1. 181.
Writers, copying from one another, make Aristotle say that goats
breathe at their ears; whereas he asserts just the contrary: "Ἀλκμαίων
γὰρ οὐκ ἀληθῆ λέγει, φάμενος ἀναπνεῖν τὰς αἶγας κατὰ τὰ ὠτά." "Alcmaeon
does not advance what is true, when he avers that goats breathe through
their ears."--"History of Animals." Book I., chap xi.