RUMINANTIA. 203 



regions, are generally marked by superior size, and a greater 

 development of the horns ; and by having a broad muzzle cov- 

 ered with hair. 



The production, loss and renewal of the antlers of this family 

 of quadrupeds, are among the most remarkable phenomena of 

 animal physiology. The subject is treated with great ability 

 and clearness in W. C. L. Martin's work on the Mammalia, from 

 which we extract the following : 



"The horns are seated upon an osseous peduncle, or footstalk, 

 rising from each frontal bone at its central point of ossification, 

 thes3 peduncles are enveloped in skin. It is not until in the spring, 

 or beginning of the second year, that the first pair of horns begin 

 to make their appearance. At this epoch, a new process com- 

 mences, the skin enveloping the peduncle swells, its arteries 

 enlarge, tides of blood rush to the head, and the whole system 

 experiences a fresh stimulus. The antlers are now budding," 

 for, on the top of their footstalks, the arteries are depositing lay- 

 ers of osseous matter, particle by particle, with great rapidity. 

 As they increase, the skin increases in an equal ratio, still cov- 

 ering the budding antlers, and continues so to do until they have 

 acquired their due development and solidity. This skin is a 

 tissue of blood vessels, and the courses of the large arteries from 

 the head to the end of the antlers are imprinted in the latter in 

 long furrows, which are never obliterated. In ordinary lan- 

 guage, the skin, investing the antlers, is termed velvet, being 

 covered with a fine pile of close short hair. Suppose then, the 

 antlers of the young deer, now duly grown, and still invested 

 with this vascular tissue ; but the process is not yet complete. 

 While this tender velvet remains, the deer can make no use of 

 his newly acquired weapons, which are destined to bear the 

 brunt of many a conflict with his compeers; it must, therefore, 

 be removed ; but without giving a sudden check to the current 

 of blood rolling through this extent of skin, lest, by directing the 

 tide to the brain, or some internal organ, death be the result. 

 The process then is this : As soon as the antlers complete, (ac- 

 cording to the age of the animal,) the footstalk, always covered 

 with skin, they begin to deposit round it a bone, or rough ring of 

 bone, with notches, through which the great arteries still pass. 

 Gradually, however, the diameter of these openings is contracted 

 by the deposition of additional matter ; till, at length, the great 

 arteries are compressed as by a ligature, and the circulation is 

 effectually stopped. The velvet now dies for the want of the 

 vital fluid ; it shrivels, dries and peels off in shreds, the animal 



