QUADRUPEDS. 



vessels of this skin, which then dries, withers, and is stripped off. 

 The horns, thus laid bare, become for a season formidable weapons ; 

 but in time they separate from the skull and fall off. Soon, how- 

 ever, new ones begin to make their appearance, which ultimately 

 become larger than their predecessors, but, like them, are destined 

 to be shed at the end of the year, under the influence of the same 

 causes. Weapons of this description, purely bony, and liable to 

 be changed periodically, are called deciduous horns, or antlers. 



A third kind of horns met with in the goat, sheep, &c., consists 

 of a bony core covered with a case of elastic substance (fiorn). 

 Horns of this description never fall off, but continue to grow 

 during the whole life of the animal : these are called hollow Iwrns. 



RUMINANTS HAVING HORNS PERMANENTLY COVERED WITH 



HAIRY SKIN. 



FIG. 431. GIRAFFE. 



The Giraffe (Camelopardalis) is distinguished from all other Ruminants 

 by the horns, which are of a conical shape and always covered with a hairy 



