80 CERVID.E. 



more frequently present on both, especially in the case 

 of the older males ; and it is doubtless their peculiarity 

 of form which has led to the belief that they are in- 

 tended by nature for the purpose of removing the snows 

 of winter in search of food. The fact, however, that 

 the male animal sheds his horns about the commencement 

 of that season demolishes the theory in his case; and it 

 is well known that he uses for this purpose his fore 

 feet and muzzle only, the skin of which latter is ex- 

 ceedingly hard and tough. 



It is a singular fact that the female of this species 

 is furnished with antlers as well as the male, and 

 equally curious that while the latter shed their horns, 

 as just mentioned, at the beginning of the winter, she 

 should retain hers until the spring. If for the purpose 

 of enabling her to procure food as above, in the winter, 

 we may ask why should she be provided with facilities 

 for such a purpose which are denied to the opposite sex ? 



The horns of the Caribou in the earlier stages of 

 their growth bear wonderfully little resemblance to those 

 of the mature animal. I have in my possession a pair 

 which I brought from Quebec, believed to be those of a 

 three-year-old, in which each horn is simply a plain, 

 slender, and very slightly curved stem, bearing equally 

 slender cylindrical brow-antlers, or rather tines, with 

 no appearance of any tendency to palmate. 



