I l:\DK 



HORNS AND 



ANTLERS 





Antlers. 



(h) Kpiphyses or separate pieces of bone covered by skin, such aa in 



the horn- of the giraffe. 



1 1. Horns that more or leas consist of true horny matter. 



(r) Bone tipped by horn, such as in the horns of the pron^ horned 



antelope. 



(<{) Bono covered or sheathed by true horn, such as in the ox. 



(e) True horn throughout, such as the nasal horn of the rhinoceros. 



True horny matter is formed by a modification of the epidermal tissue 

 (the superficial layers of skin) and consists of an albuminoid material 

 called Li-ratin, a substance identical \\ith the chief constituent of wool. 



Horns of the first group are largely exported from India to England, 

 under the name of deer-horn. The antlers chiefly traded in are those 

 of the spotted deer (30 inches and under) and the sdmbar (40 inches 

 and under). They are extensively employed in Europe as bone handles 

 for cutlery, umbrellas, sticks, etc. The second group are valued on ac- 

 count of the special properties of keratin ; it is elastic, flexible and tough, 

 and readily softens under heat and allows of the substance being moulded 

 and welded as desired. Long, straight buffalo-horn is valued as a sub- Hprns. 

 st it ute. for whalebone, and on this account fetches a higher price than 

 curved horn. Accordingly, the tips are cut off and sold separately. The 

 horns of sheep and goats are whiter and more transparent than those of 

 other animals, and are, therefore, most valued for comb-making, while 

 certain buffalo-horns are in demand for ornamental work. Perhaps 

 one-fifth of the horns imported into England are used up in the comb 

 trade, a small proportion being utilised for fancy work, such as shoe-horns, 

 scoops, drinking-cups and the like. The solid tips, as also the hoofs of 

 cattle (which consist largely of keratin), are made into buttons. The long, 

 straight horns are cut yito strips softened in a solution of bi-carbonato 

 of soda ; the strips being allowed to sweat, are then bevelled and pressed 

 iier. when they unite into the strips that are employed in place of 

 whalebone. In Jaipur and elsewhere in India long straight horns have 

 similarly been used from ancient times in the manufacture of bows and 

 arrows. 



Trade in Horns and Hornmeal. The EXPORTS of horn of all kinds Exports, 

 from India were 71,894 cwt., valued at Rs. 12,80,051, in 1876-7 ; a decade 

 later the quantity had been reduced by nearly one half, but the value 

 remained the same ; a decade still later the exports were 59,804 cwt., 

 valued at Rs. 16,73,241. The traffic is one that fluctuates extremely 

 according to climatic conditions. In times of scarcity and famine the 

 exports increase and the horns decline in value, while in times of plenty From Bombay, 

 the quantity decreases and the value increases. During 1901-2 the 

 exports were 62,944 cwt. and Rs. 13,35,759 ; in 1902-3, 71,396 cwt. and 

 Rs. 17,05,257 ; in 1903-4, 48,405 cwt. and Rs. 12,05,798 ; 1904-5, 61,582 

 wt, and Rs. 13,72,375 ; 1905-6, 73,521 cwt. and Rs. 17,49,944 ; and in 

 UMH; 7, 78,771 cwt. and Rs. 16,91,532. Usually about 50 per cent, of 

 !-.'de goes from Bombay, and approximately a similar proportion 

 of the total is consigned to the United Kingdom the shares taken in 

 1900 having been 45,660 cwt. ; in 1903-4, 25,718 cwt. ; and in 

 1906-7, 26,678 cwt. France is the next most important receiving country, 

 having taken in 1899-1900, 25,590 cwt. ; in 1903-4, 13,226 cwt. ; and in 

 1906-7, 32,887 cwt. The share contributed by Calcutta is ordinarily 

 little over half that of Bombay. The IMI'<>I;TS drawn by India from foreign 



645 



Itutton-i. 



Whalebone 



Sobatttote. 



To United 

 Kingdom. 



