CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



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I again encountered this buck and found that his antlers were full- 

 grown and carried several extra tines or points (see Fig. 91). By 

 this time the buck was in full winter pelage and his antlers, including 

 the one on his nose, were free from velvet, being hard and polished. 

 According to local residents, the unicorn buck came back in the spring 

 with a hole or depression in his forehead where the supernumerary- 

 antler had been. A knob began to appear there simultaneously with 

 the budding antlers. 



**01d Horny" was one of the tamest bucks in the park, yet, unlike 

 the other older bucks, he never was mean, even during the rutting 

 season, or vicious toward men, women, or children. It was thought 

 from his malformed antlers and his exceedingly gentle behavior that 

 he was sexually deficient. However, examination of his reproductive 

 organs and subsequent observations proved that this was not the case. 

 His testicles, though small, were intact, and the fact that this buck was 



seen to drive off other large 



bucks and to mate successfully 

 with several does proved that 

 he was sexually potent. For 

 some unknown reason, other 

 larger and more powerful bucks 

 repeatedly gave way and relin- 

 quished their rights, even to the 

 coveted does, to the unicorn. 

 When another buck came near 

 him, "Old Horny" faced the in- 

 truder, then, lowering his head, 

 gave a hoarse hiss or grunt. 

 Upon receiving such a challenge, 

 the other buck always departed 

 in haste. 



It became obvious during 

 the winter of 1928 that "Old 

 Horny" was fast entering upon 

 a decline. His body became 

 thin and emaciated and his 

 spirit was broken. Watch was 

 kept, but he grew more feeble, 

 and on February 24, 1928, after 

 the two main antlers were shed, 

 he was placed in one of the gov- 

 ernment barns where he could be fed and taken care of. Finally, in 

 the first week of March, in spite of all that could be done for him, 

 "Old Horny" died. A post mortem by George M. Wright revealed 

 that he was heavily infested with ticks. A large bump was present on 

 the right side of the lower jaw. When the head was skinned, it was 

 discovered that the lower jaw on the right side and an area extending 

 all the way back to the base of the cranium was infected and full of pus. 

 When the skull was cleaned it was found that the skull was not bilater- 

 ally perfect and that the two antler sockets were not in the same rela- 

 tive position. 



During the life of the unicorn there had been much discussion and 

 debate regarding the exact location of the third antler with regard to 



Fig. 91. A close up of the "unicorn" 

 buck to show location and forking of 

 third antler on face in front of eyes. 

 Yosemite, December 6, 1927. Mus. Vert. 

 Zool. No. 5611. 



