i68 SPORT AND TRAVEL 



and more or less penetrated the shell or horn, and 

 when this was removed, some were torn from the 

 skin and others from the horn. We observe further 

 that the new horn had commenced its growth a con- 

 siderable time before the old one was cast, for the 

 new horn was extended several inches above the 

 top of the core, nearly in a vertical direction, though 

 with a slightly posterior inclination. The top of 

 this for nearly half an inch is already hardened into 

 perfect horn. Below this it is softer, and a little way 

 down it has lost the horny texture, but is a pretty 

 firm and somewhat flexible mass down to the core 

 and around it, at the upper part of which, however, 

 it has rather the appearance of thick, massive skin 

 of a high temperature, showing great activity in the 

 blood-vessels permeating it. As we pass lower down, 

 the skin is thinner and shows less excitement or 

 activity. Upon this skin, enveloping the core, we 

 find the hairs already described. 



" This was the condition of the new development 

 when the old horn was cast off. It shows that the 

 new horn had already made considerable upward 

 growth from the top of the core, and tearing out the 

 hairs, the roots of which were in the skin, and many 

 of which extended into or through the old horn. Un- 

 til these were mostly torn asunder or were withdrawn 

 from the canals by which they had penetrated the shell, 

 they served to prevent it from being easily lost ; but 

 finally, when these were all or nearly all severed, it fell 



