DEER. 123 



it is supposed that some of those in hotter climates 

 do not cast them annually. The palmated form of 

 the horn, again, seems to be more restricted to those 

 animals inhabiting an arctic or northern latitude, and 

 is considered by Major Smith as a provision to re- 

 move the snow from their food. 



On the first commencement of the horn in the 

 young animals, it is perceptible like a small lump. 

 This advances and reaches the condition of a true 

 horn of a small size, and is cast at the proper sea- 

 son. The wound, which at first bleeds, is in a few- 

 hours covered with a fine film : the vessels are cica- 

 trized, and the production of the next horn imme- 

 diately commences with a burr round the old wound. 

 When the rutting season begins, generally in spring, 

 this reproducing power is exerted to the utmost. 

 The vessels from the roots swell, and an immense 

 degree of secretion, accompanied with heat and irri- 

 tation, is generated. The horn shoots rapidly at this 

 period, enveloped in a fine and soft downy cover- 

 ing, which serves as a protection in its tender state 

 from the weather and insects. When it has reach- 

 ed its greatest development, or when the power of 

 the supplying vessels is exhausted, an irritation in- 

 duces the animal to rub against trees or rocks, which 

 inflicts wounds on the external covering : the ves- 

 sels, gradually exhausted, diy, and the covering be- 

 comes like a skin, and falls or is rubbed off, leaving 

 the horn hard and solid, and bearing traces of the 

 course of the many vessels which had been employ- 



