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CHAP. 59.—THE NOSTRILS.

Within the cheeks is the mouth, which gives such strong indications of the feelings of joyousness and laughter; and above it, but in man only, is the nose, which modern notions have stamped as the exponent of sarcasm and ridicule.1 In no other animal but man, is the nose thus prominent; birds, serpents, and fishes, have no nostrils, but apertures only for the purpose of smell. It is from the peculiarity of the nose that are derived the surnames of "Simus"2 and "Silo." Children born in the seventh month often have the ears and the nostrils imperforate.

1 Hence the word "nasutus," a sneering, captious, or sarcastic man.

2 "Flat-nosed, " and " snub-nosed."

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