THE ANTLERS. 



193 



thougli incorrectly, called a horn. As as we have already seen, 

 it is an external osseous member, and is as different in its com- 

 ponents from true horn, as it is from muscle. Only in its uses 

 as a weapon and in its location does it resemble the horn. 



As a whole, the appendage is properly termed an antler. The 

 main stem is called the beam; the larger branches from the 

 beam are called tines., and the branches from these and small 

 branches from the beam, are called snags. The flattened por- 

 tions of either the beam or the tines are called jjalnis. Tlie ir- 

 regular enlargement at the base, is called the burr., and the 

 warty eminences, more usually found on the lower portion of the 

 beam, are called knobs, warts, or tubercles. The lower anterior 

 conspicuous branch, is called the broiv-tine, and the next the bez- 

 tine, and the third the royal-tine ; then the sur-royal, etc. 

 These are most distinct on tlie antler of wapiti. Usually the 

 first antler grown on the young buck is not branched, but con- 



^ 



Moose. 



sists of beam only, and is called a dag or spihe antler, and the 

 latter term applies to the antlers of the adults when they are not 

 branched, which is sometimes the case. The pedicel is the per- 

 manent process of the skull on which the antler grows. 



The most conspicuous example of palmated antlers is found 

 on the largest of the deer family, — our Moose. It,' however, 



13 



