154 Sport and Life. 



velvety covering during the progress of growth of the solid horns of the 

 genus Cervus. With reference to the frequency of the shedding of the 

 horns of this animal, I can only offer a surmise. Judging from the rapidity 

 of the growth of the young horn, I reasonably conclude that it occurs 

 annually. In support of this, it may be remembered that our animal's horns 

 in January last were barely 3 in. in length, while by June of the same year 

 they were fully formed, and measured Sin. ; they were cast the first week 

 in November that is, on the 7th ; the new horns on that day (see 

 illustration) were about 4-in. long; they are now 6in. long, having grown 

 2in. in twenty-one days. 



NEW HORN ONE DAY AFTER NEW HORN AFTER TWENTY-ONE 



SHEDDING OF OLD. DAYS 1 GROWTH. 



Judge Caton, who had many of these antelopes in his possession, 

 fully bears out the evidence of Mr. Bartlett. He writes as 

 follows : 



The older the animal, the earlier the horn matures, and the sooner it 

 is cast. On old bucks the horn is shed in October ; while on the early 

 kids it is shed in January, and still later on later kids ; or else it is carried 

 over till the next year. A late kid in my grounds on Dec. i had the horn 

 not more than a quarter of an inch above the skin. It grew slowly all 

 winter, and till the time of its death in May following. Let us observe the 

 horn of the adult male antelope, which is shed in October. If we make 

 our examination so soon as the horn is cast off, we can readily understand 

 the process by which it is removed. By looking into the cavity of the 



