ost of which were taken, and some I saw. 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 _Mus medius domesticus_ 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 thermometer 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.

I am, etc., etc.

LETTER XIV.

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 climat