226 Zoological Society. 
coryx in the museum at Frankfort, with horns eighteen or twenty 
inches long, has the points still blunt, exactly as in another speci- 
men, where they are only two inches long.” ‘‘ Now this permanence 
or deciduousness of the horns—for in a general sense, and especially 
as contrasted with the solid organs of the deer kind, the hollow horn 
may be considered as permanent—is a constant and invariable cha- 
racter, which has a direct and powerful influence upon the habits 
and ceconomy of the animals. The deer kind invariably affect par- 
ticular localities at the period of casting and renewing their horns; 
their manners then undergo a complete change; from bold and da- 
ring, they become irresolute ; they lose their flesh, abandon the open 
hills and upland plains for the thick cover of the forests, and foregoing 
their gregarious habits, desert their companions, and pass the period 
of weakness in solitude and seclusion. As soon, however, as the 
new horn acquires strength and solidity, the stag resumes his usual 
habits, and regains his former confidence. Hollow-horned Rumi- 
nants present no such phenomena; the habits and manners of the 
same species are similar at all seasons, and the differences which we 
observe in different species depend upon other causes, which shall 
be developed in the sequel. ‘The modifications of organic structure 
whicn produce these different effects are too permanent and influen- 
tial to be neglected among the characters of a natural classification 
of the Ruminants. Nor have they been overlooked by zoologists ; 
it may be said, indeed, with truth, that they constitute the only 
really important characters hitherto employed to distinguish the ge- 
nera of these animals.”’ 
The presence or absence of horns in species or sexes has been 
partially employed by naturalists for the distinction of genera; the 
importance of this character, however, in the opinion of the author, 
has not been duly appreciated. Its effects on the habits and ceco- 
nomy of the species of Ruminants is pointed out. The gentleness 
and timidity of those species which have hornless females, their being 
either perfectly monogamous, or residing in small detached families, 
composed of a single adult male and variable number of females, and 
the circumstance of the males adhering throughout life to the same 
female, are all phenomena which are traceable to the defenceless 
condition of the females.. These phenomena are contrasted with 
those exhibited by Ruminants, in which there are horns in both sexes ; 
they are said to be extremely bold, to reside generally in large herds, 
and to have a community of sexual intercourse, and rarely aeoaen 
themselves to particular individuals. 
The number, form, and peculiar curvatures of the horns are next 
considered ; and the author arrives at the conclusion, that all the va- 
rious flexures of the horns, as well as their number, form, and direc- 
tion, have no assignable relation to the habits and ceconomy of animal 
life; they should not therefore be selected for generic diagnoses. 
On the other hand, the form of the upper lip, as well as its hairy or 
naked character, having a very decided influence on the habits and 
ceconomy of ruminating animals, ought by no means to be neglected 
-in the classification of this group. Other important characters may 
