ABNORMAL HORNS OF THE INDIAN ANTELOPE. 185 



these abnormalities and other monstrosities is, as yet, not very 



apparent, and on no condition or relation, so far as we know, do they 



appear to be dependent, though certain theories have been advanced 



to account for them which require further confirmation for final 



acceptance. At the present moment it is the generally received 



opinion that bodily accidents are mainly instrumental in inducing 



abnormal growths, and that injury to the testis in particular is the 



primary cause of producing these aberrant types; but nowhere, so 



far as I know, is there evidence to prove beyond doubt that this is so. 



Blvth, as noticed by Jerdon, suggested thai the example of an antelope's 



deformed horn as then known was probably the result of an injury 



to the animal's testis on that side ; but the statement is not put 



forward as authoritative, but only suppositional, so that, in the 



absence of subsequent confirmation, much weight cannot be attached 



to it, notwithstanding the observation made at page 249 of the 



Mammals of India, that "there is a wonderful sympathy between the 



generative organs and the growth of the horns," which remark 



I do not interpret as applying to all ruminants for obvious 



reasons. In dealing with the question, perhaps it is just as well to 



remember that the horns of deer and antelopes are formed of quite 



different material — the antlers of the Cervidae partaking more of an 



osseous nature, while those of the Bovidae are of another substance 



which is capable of easy deflection ; so that trivial causes that may 



have no effect in the one case may operate powerfully in moulding 



aberrant types in the other. I very much doubt if an antler could be 



made to describe a circle ; but with horn this is easily done, and it is 



doubtless pretty generally known that the Kaffirs and Zulus are in 



the habit of training the horns of their cattle by different methods 



into various and fantastic shapes to suit their tastes, so susceptible 



are they to manipulation ; and though these are artificial ways of 



producing desired results, something of the kind may come into play 



in nature when intent on accomplishing some of her many freaks. 



In some cases, perhaps, health has a great deal to do with the 

 production of abnormal horns, and we all know what an important 

 factor it is in the proper development of man, as well as of the lower 

 animals ; but on this point, unfortunately, no record seems to have been 

 left for subsequent inquiries, so that we are utterly in the dark when 

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