Ettuus. MAMMALIA. BELLUyE. 27 



(vol. xvli. p. 478.), a pair of large deer's horns are said to have been found in 

 a marl-pit at Marlee, and, " from their superior size and palmed form, they 

 appear to be the horns of the elk-deer." Among the donations to the lloyal 

 Society of Edinburgh, there is recorded (Trans, lloyal Soc. vol. i. part 1. p. 77-X 

 " By the Honourable Lord Dunsinnan, — a painting in oil of the head and 

 horns of an el:c, found in a marl-pit, Forfarshire." Whether these two ex- 

 amples from marl-beds should be referred to the fallow-deer or the Irish elk, 

 may admit of some doubt, though it is probable that they belong to the former. 



The British Pecora appear to have experienced changes, by which the num- 

 ber of species has been reduced, though we possess no records to determine 

 the aera of their extirpation. 



1. Irish Elk. 



This species, now unknown in a recent state, was first described by Dr 

 Molyneux (Phil. Trans. No. 227.). " From the extreme tip of each 

 horn it measured 10 feet 10 inches, and from the tip of the right horn 

 to its root 5 feet 2 inches." It is of frequent occurrence in the beds of 

 shell-marl, beneath peat, in the Irish bogs. In England, it has several 

 times occurred in a similar situation, and in clay and gravel at Walton, 

 in Essex. A splendid, and nearly perfect specimen from the Isle of 

 Man is preserved in the Edinburgh Museum. 



2. Antelope. 



The only notice of any animal of this kind ever having inhabited the 

 British Islands, is contained in a paper giving " An account of the 

 peat-pit near Newbury, Berkshii-e," by John Elliot, M. D. " A great 

 many horns, heads, and bones of sevei'al kinds of deer, the horns of 

 the Antelope, the heads and tusks of boars, the heads of beavers, &c. 

 are also found in it ; and I have been told, that some human bones 

 have been found ; but I never saw any of these myself, though I have 

 of all the others." Phil. Trans. 1757, p. 112. 



The following passage of Torfa^us (Hist. Ore. cap. 36.), would lead to the 

 belief that the Rein-deer once dwelt in the mountains of Caithness, were it 

 not extremely probable that Hed-deer were intended, " Consueverant Comi- 

 tes in Catanesian, indeque ad montana ad venatum caprearum rangiferorum 

 quotannis proficisci." Several attempts have been made by the Duke of 

 Athol and others to introduce the rein-deer into the country, but these have 

 hitherto failed. 



BELLU-^. 



Gen. XXVI. EQUUS. Horse.— Hoof entire, with six inci- 

 sors in each jaw. 



42. E. Caballus. Mane and tail with thick flowing hair. 



The mare goes with young eleven months, and seldom produces more than 

 one. The milk incisors begin to protrude themselves five days after birth. 

 At two and a half years, the two middle teeth are replaced by permanent ones ; 

 at three and a half the two adjoining ones ; at four and a half, the two 

 outer or corner teeth. All these are at first hollow in the middle of the sum- 

 mit, with a dark spot, but, by use, the concavity becomes shallower, and be- 

 tween the age of seven and eight, the spot disappears, and the animal is then 

 said to have lost mark. The tusks of the lower jaw appear at the age of three 

 and a half years, those in the upper at four ; they remain sharp pointed till 

 six, after which they become blunt, and exceed in length. 



