78 SEXUAL DIMORPHISM 



have antlers with a long peduncle and an incipient burr, 

 beyond which they are divided into a long fork. It is believed 

 that these antlers were never shed, and were covered with skin 

 throughout life. This condition is not represented in existing 

 deer, and is not exactly similar to that seen in the Giraffe. 

 The nearest approach to it among living forms seems to be 

 afforded by the Muntjacs, Cervulus, which inhabit India and 

 the East Indies. The antlers in this genus are very small 

 with two points, and are supported on a long pedicle, from 

 which they are separated by a burr. The antlers of the 

 Indian species, although so small, seem to be shed annually 

 in May, and to be replaced by August. On the other hand, 

 Sir Samuel Baker and other authorities state that the Indian 

 sambar, Cervus unicolor, whose antlers are much larger, does 

 not shed them every year, but carries them often three or 

 four years, and then sheds them and reproduces them. Mr. 

 Lydekker, however, states that the stags of this species at 

 Woburn Abbey shed their antlers annually, but the time of 

 shedding and the time of year at which the fawns are pro- 

 duced by the female are very variable. 



It would appear from this that the annual shedding of the 

 antlers was a process acquired some time after the evolution 

 of the structures themselves. Mr. Lydekker refers to the 

 fact that there were certain extinct ruminants more or less 

 intimately allied to the giraffes whose heads were furnished 

 with branching bony appendages apparently agreeing in all 

 respects with the antlers of existing deer, except that they 

 were never shed, and apparently remained in the velvet 

 throughout life. 



Now, in order to attempt to form a conception of the 

 manner in which the shedding of the antlers arose, we must 

 have some knowledge of the manner in which it actually 

 takes place at the present time, and the best account of this 

 matter known to me is that given by J. D. Caton in his 



