ANTLER AND FERN. Si 



dropped antlers if they chance to grow at 

 hand; for it is remarkable that few horns 

 are found compared to the number that must 

 be shed, and those that are found are more 

 often single horns than pairs. Certainly the 

 extent of the woods is very great, but they 

 are traversed by gamekeepers and others, 

 the moors are crossed by shepherds, and all 

 keep a keen look-out for horns which are 

 valuable. 



A good pair will fetch ^5 ; as much as 

 10 has been given for a pair with a 

 remarkable number of points. These prices 

 alone show that it is not so easy to find a 

 pair of dropped antlers as might be ima- 

 gined. A gamekeeper, in one wood, one 

 season found eight horns running, all single, 

 that is, belonging to one side of the head 

 only. Many of the horns sold are really 

 odd antlers, and were dropped by different 

 stags ; these are fitted together, and gene- 



F 



