Re: I feel embarrassed to ask this, but...

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

David Marjanovic writes: 

> > They [dogs] sneeze too. Really, nasty, snotty sneezes.
>
> When my nose is really plugged, I don't sneeze. I don't get the reflex, 
> somehow. 

Then again, you've evolved a handy set of 'Swiss army knife' fingers of 
various sizes, and have a relatively short nasal passage (allowing said 
digits almost complete access). For a dog it's a snort or a sneeze, or 
nothing. Dogs sometimes get fungal infections that can block a nostril 
entirely, but there's very little they can do about it without veterinary 
help (unless they evolve a symbiotic relationship with aye-ayes, which I'll 
admit is unlikely). 

Has anyone ever noticed that in great apes at least, the forefinger always 
seems to be a good fit for the nostril? I've seen gorillas picking their 
nose (with gusto), and their big thick forefingers also happen to fit 
snuggly into their wide nostrils. I suspect a similar correlation between 
our smallest digits and our ear canals. It's like nature *wants* us to stick 
our fingers in various cranial orifices. 

___________________________________________________________________ 

Dann Pigdon
GIS / Archaeologist              http://geo_cities.com/dannsdinosaurs
Melbourne, Australia             http://heretichides.soffiles.com
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