OF THE STAG'S HEAD. 27 



or blood vessels, their growth being perfected within 

 about eleven or twelve weeks from the time the old 

 head is " mewed" or shed. 



During the end of April or the beginning of May 

 stags shed their antlers. They simply loosen and 

 fall off as the deer brushes through covert, or jumps 

 a bank into a feeding-ground. Mr. Capel, of 

 Bulland Lodge, picked up seven fine antlers in four 

 days within a few yards of a rack in the fence which 

 divides Middle Hill from a field of young grass, 

 showing obviously that they had been jerked off on 

 landing. A raw socket is left in the skull which 

 bleeds slightly, and as it heals over forms a soft 

 tumour. This socket is formed by a hollow projection 

 from the frontal bone, and one of the most curious 

 points in this most remarkable phenomenon is that 

 this projection alters from year to year not only in 

 height but in shape, one of the best-known marks of 

 a very old stag being the shortness of the pillar or 

 projection. The soft tumour continues to swell and 

 enlarge, and gradually forms the antler. The process 

 is thus described by Dr. Bell, as quoted in Dr. Collyns's 

 work : " The growth of the horn is an astonishing 

 instance of the rapidity of production of bone under 

 particular circumstances, and unparalleled in its 

 extent in so short a period. During its growth the 

 branches of the external carotid arteries which lend 

 their assistance in the formation are considerably 

 enlarged for the purpose of carrying the great flow 

 of blood required for the formation of bone. It 



