RUMINANTIA. 113 



Finally, in the genus of the Stags, the prominences covered fora 

 time with a hairy skin, similar to that on the rest of the head, have at 

 their base a ring of bony tubercles, which, as they enlarge, compress 

 and obliterate the vessels of that skin. It becomes dry and is thrown 

 off; the bony prominences, being laid bare, at the expiration of a 

 certain period separate from the cranium to which they were at- 

 tached; they fall and the animal remains defenceless. Others, 

 however, are re-produced generally larger than before, and destined 

 to undergo the same fate. These horns, purely osseous, and sub- 

 ject to periodical changes, are styled antlers. 



CERVUS, Lin. 



The Stags, consequently, are the only Ruminantia which have heads armed 

 with antlers; the females, however, the Rein-Deer alone excepted, are al- 

 ways without them. The substance of these antlers, when completely 

 developed, is that of a dense bone, without pores or sinus. 



C. alces, L. (The Moose.) As large as a Horse and sometimes larger; 

 stands very high; the muzzle cartilaginous and inflated; a sort of goitre, or. 

 pendulous swelling, variously shaped, under the throat; hair always very 

 stiff and of a more or less deep ash-colour. Their horns increase with age 

 so as to weigh fifty or sixty pounds, and to have fourteen branches to each 

 horn. The Moose lives in small troops, and inhabits the marshy forests of 

 the north of both continents. Its skin is valuable for various purposes. 



C. tarandus, L., Buff. (The Rein-Deer. ) Size of a Stag, but has shorter 

 and stouter legs; both sexes have antlers, divided into several branches, at 

 first slender and pointed, and terminating by age in broad denticulated 

 palms. There are various species of this genus, such as the Fallow-Deer, 

 Common Stag, Virginia Deer, Axis, Roebuck, &c. 



CAMELOPARDALIS, Lin. 



The Giraffe is characterized in both sexes by conical horns, always covered 

 with a hairy skin, and which are never shed. On the middle of the chan- 

 frin is a tubercle or third horn, broader and much shorter, but likewise ar- 

 ticulated by a suture. It is moreover one of the most remarkable animals 

 in existence, from the length of its neck and the disproportioned height of 

 its fore legs. Only one species is known, 



C.girafa, F. Cuv. (The Giraffe.) It is confined to the deserts of Af- 

 rica, and has short grey hair sprinkled with fawn coloured angular spots, 

 and a small fawn coloured and grey mane. It is the tallest of all animals, 

 for its head is frequently elevated eighteen feet from the ground. Its dis- 

 position is gentle, and it feeds on leaves. The 



RUMINANTIA WITH HOLLOW HORNS 



Are more numerous than the others, and we have been compelled 

 P 



