120 Mr. Wittich on the Horns of the 



largest part of the smaller partition forms an angle of almost 

 90 with the prolonged plain of the larger partition ; both are 

 united together by a bending of the smaller partition towards 

 the common neck. The width of the whole horn from 1 to 5, 

 if measured on the inner side, is thirty-two inches ; if measured 

 on the outer side over the curvature, it is thirty-eight inches. 

 The width of the whole horn from 1 to 8, if measured on 

 the inner side, is twenty-seven inches; if measured on the 

 outer side over the curvature, it is thirty-six inches. The 

 whole length of the horn from g to 4, if measured on the inner 

 side, is twenty-three inches ; if measured on the outer side, 

 twenty-seven inches. 



The horns of the Prussian elk seem to be distinguished from 

 those of the moose-deer by the length of their antlers. Almost 

 all of them are nearly as long as the length of the palmated 

 part to which they are united, whilst most of those of the 

 moose-deer are short, as it were lopped, and in general do not 

 arrive at one fourth of the length of the palmated part. The 

 antlers of the Prussian elk are, therefore, more like those of the 

 fossil elk than of the moose-deer. 



Another difference is produced by the division of the pal- 

 mated part. In the moose-deer it forms in general an extended 

 plain, not separated by any cut. Sometimes, indeed, the lowest 

 antler, and always a long one, is separated by a cut from the 

 main body ; but it is rather to be considered as an antler with 

 a palmated root. 



It may yet be worth observing, that the whole mass or 

 weight of the horn is differently disposed in the Prussian elk 

 respecting the stem. A straight line, drawn in the direction of 

 the stem over the palmated part, divides the Prussian elk-horn 

 into two parts almost equal ; but such a line, applied to the 

 horn of the moose-deer, divides it into two parts greatly 

 different from one another. Whether such differences are 

 sufficient to constitute a distinct species, or distinguish only a 

 variety, if horns so different in the disposition of their parts 

 can be supported by bones and muscles of the same strength 

 and order, or whether they require both bones and muscles to 

 be of different dimensions and structure, I leave to the decision 

 of men better versed in the knowledge of the laws of nature 

 than myself. 



