356 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



levels were free from jungle, in which we were sure to find a stag 

 with horns in velvet ; these secluded spots, which produced good 

 pasturage, were at the same time open, anil afforded space to move, 

 without danger to the growing horns. 



There are few things more curious than the growth of a deer's 

 horns. We have already seen that those of antelopes resemble the 

 horns of oxen, goats, and sheep : these are sheaths fitting upon an 

 inside core of bone, which is a projection of the skull, and never 

 can be shed. The horns of deer commence their growth when the 

 male is two years old, in a single spike about G inches long. This 

 is perfectly hard and solid, but, like all mature horns, it falls off 

 in spring, leaving the peculiar porous base ready for the growth 

 of a larger pair. If the animal is healthy, and the conditions of 

 the locality favourable, each annual shedding is succeeded by an 

 increased size. The base or foundation grows broader and more 

 solid every year, and the spike horn forms a tine. As age 

 increases, the horns become antlers, as the tines not only enlarge, 

 but extend in number, until the animal reaches the prime of ita 

 existence ; this would be when about twelve years old. At that 

 age the red -deer of Scotland might have ten or twelve points, 

 sometimes fourteen, when the stag becomes " imperial," the points 

 sprouting from a thickened portion of the horn, which forms a cup. 

 Every pointed projection, however small, is termed a "point"; 

 thus a stag of twelve will frequently possess only ten good tines, 

 and a couple of projections of 2 inches in length will make it 

 twelve. 



The growth of antlers is extremely rapid. The young horns 

 commence in the beginning of May, and they are sufficiently hard 

 beneath the downy skin to commence to peel in the first week of 

 August. While growing they are nourished by small blood-vessels, 

 and, as by degrees they become developed, the points denote the 

 maturity of the formation. When these become acute, the bone 

 is thoroughly set and the cleansing process is commenced. The 

 small veins dry up, and become obtuse ; the downy skin, which is 

 known by the name of " velvet," also becomes dry and leathery. 

 As the blood-vessels contract and wither, an itching is set up ; 

 this encourages the animal to rub its antlers against some tolerably 

 yielding surface, that will by degrees detach the irritating cause. 

 The deer generally seeks a sapling of about an inch in diameter 

 for its first rubbing post, as the horns are still delicate. In a few 

 days, having destroyed several of these yielding stems, it ventures 

 upon a tougher material, until at length it has no choice, and 

 boldly rubs the last adhering strings of velvet from its horns 



