226 Zoological Society, 



coryx in the museum at Frankfort, with horns eighteen or twenty- 

 inches long, has the points still blunt, exactly as in another speci- 

 men, where they are only two inches long." " Now this permanence 

 or deciduousness of the horns — for in a general sense, and especially 

 as contrasted with the solid organs of the deer kind, the hollow horn 

 may be considered as permanent — is a constant and invariable cha- 

 racter, which has a direct and powerful influence upon the habits 

 and ceconomy of the animals. The deer kind invariably affect par- 

 ticular localities at the period of casting and renewing their horns ; 

 their manners then undergo a complete change ; from bold and da- 

 ring, they become irresolute ; they lose their flesh, abandon the open 

 hills and upland plains for the thick cover of the forests, and foregoing 

 their gregarious habits, desert their companions, and pass the period 

 of weakness in solitude and seclusion. As soon, however, as the 

 new horn acquires strength and solidity, the stag resumes his usual 

 habits, and regains his former confidence. Hollow-horned Rumi- 

 nants present no such phenomena ; r the habits and manners of the 

 same'species are similar at all seasons, and the differences which we 

 observe in different species depend upon other causes, which shall 

 be developed in the sequel. The modifications of organic structure 

 which produce these different effects are too permanent and influen- 

 tial to be neglected among the characters of a natural classification 

 of the Ruminants. Nor have they been overlooked by zoologists ; 

 it may be said, indeed, with truth, that they constitute the only 

 really important characters hitherto employed to distinguish the ge- 

 nera of these animals." 



The presence or absence of horns in species or sexes has been 

 partially employed by naturalists for the distinction of genera ; the 

 importance of this character, however, in the opinion of the author, 

 has not been duly appreciated. Its effects on the habits and ceco- 

 nomy of the species of Ruminants is pointed out. The gentleness 

 and timidity of those species which have hornless females, their being 

 either perfectly monogamous, or residing in small detached families, 

 composed of a single adult male and variable number of females, and 

 the circumstance of the males adhering throughout life to the same 

 female, are all phenomena which are traceable to the defenceless 

 condition of the females. These phenomena are contrasted with 

 those exhibited by Ruminants, in which there are horns in both sexes ; 

 they are said to be extremely bold, to reside generally in large herds, 

 and to have a community of sexual intercourse, and rarely attach 

 themselves to particular individuals. 



The number, form, and peculiar curvatures of the horns are next 

 considered ; and the author arrives at the conclusion, that all the va- 

 rious flexures of the horns, as well as their number, form, and direc- 

 tion, have no assignable relation to the habits and ceconomy of animal 

 life ; they should not therefore be selected for generic diagnoses. 

 On the other hand, the form of the upper lip, as well as its hairy or 

 naked character, having a very decided influence on the habits and 

 ceconomy of ruminating animals, ought by no means to be neglected 

 in the classification of this group. Other important characters may 



