08 BOTANICAL LITERATURE. 



found chiefly on the males, though the Rein deer is an exception, both sexes 

 being provided with them. Like the second class, they are not true horns, but 

 consist of very hard bone : its density indeed is nearly as great as ivory. These 

 animals when very young have no antlers ; soon, however, a thickening and 

 induration of the skin takes place over two points of the frontal bone, corres- 

 ponding to the future antlers. These points shortly become adherent to the 

 subjacent bone, and bony matter is deposited in them. At the time for the 

 growth of the antlers, the temporal and carotid arteries, which supply the head 

 with blood, become very much enlarged. The skin over the bony tubercles is 

 absorbed, and a membrane exceedingly vascular is formed, which is in fact a 

 kind of periosteum. This grows in the direction of the future antler, secreting 

 bone from its inside surface ; branches are given off, and lastly the palm. The 

 grooves which are seen on antlers are caused by the blood-vessels in the mem- 

 brane, which, as soon as it has performed its part in secreting the bone, dries up 

 and then peels off. These antlers begin to grow at the early part of winter. 

 They are deciduous yearly, the manner in which they are detached being very 

 curious, and well worthy of notice. It is as follows. After the horns have 

 attained their full size, and the vascular membrane has been removed, the ves- 

 sels at the lower part — where the tubercles were formerly — still continue secret- 

 ing, and bone is thrown out ; this presses on the arteries which pass through open- 

 ings in the bony circle at the base of the antler, and at length obliterates them. 

 Absorption of the bone immediately below the bur now goes on, and cuts the 

 antler off. This process is seldom completed, as the horn is generally broken off 

 by the animal striking it against trees, &c. A little blood is effused, but the 

 wound soon heals up. The Elk has immense antlers, with very wide palms, 

 which often weigh fifty or sixty pounds. Antlers are found in both sexes in the 

 Rein-deer, but larger in the male than in the female. 

 December 18, 1837. 



NOTICE OF THE WORKS MOST INTERESTING TO THE STUDENT 



OF INDIGENOUS PLANTS. 



By Edwin Lees, F.L.S., M.E.S.L. 



When a neophyte enters upon the study of any science, his first inquiry is 

 for the books that will be of the greatest service to him in the pursuit he has 

 entered upon. Now although advice is exceedingly cheap, books unfortunately 

 are not so, and as every student is not a "Prince Maximilian," it becomes 



