174 



Cervid,e.- 



-MAMMALIA.- 



-Cervid.e. 



is effected, the ossification proceeds from the centre to 

 the circumference, and a medidlary cavity is ultimately 

 produced. While tliis is taking place, a corresponding 

 change is observed at the surface. The periosteal 

 veins acquire an enormous size, and by their presence 

 occasion the formation of grooves on the subjacent 

 bone. At the same time osseous tubercles of ivoiy 

 hardness appear at the base of the stem ; these coalesce 

 by degrees, and inclose within their folds the great 

 superficial vascular trunks, which are thus rendered 

 impervious. The supply of nutriment being thus cut 

 off, the first stage of exudation is accomplished by the 

 consequent shrivelling up and decay of the periosteal 

 and integumentary envelopes. The full growth of the 

 horns is now consummated, and the animals being 

 aware ot their strength, endeavour to complete tlie 

 desquamation by rubbing them against any hard sub- 

 stances which may lie in their path. This action is 

 technically termed " burnishing." After the rutting 

 season, the horns are shed, to be again renewed in the 

 ensuing spring ; and every year they become more 

 jierfect. as represented in the accompanying woodcut, 

 tig. G3. The letter references respectively indicate tlie 



Fig, 63. 



Development of the boms of the Ked Deer. 



several stages of development following upon that of 

 the second year, in which the horn has the form of 

 a simple unbranched stem, a. Like the antelopes, the 

 stags are very swift of foot ; but most uf them live 

 within, or in the immediate neighbourhood of large 

 forests, browsing on grass, leaves, various herbs, and the 

 shoots of young trees. Fossil remains of deer are very 

 numerous both m tertiary and recent formations; those 

 of the Bramatlierium and Sivatherium discovered by 

 Dr. Falkener in the Sivalik hills of Northern India, 

 showing that in former times some members of tliis 

 family attained tiie most gigantic proportions. 



THE ELK [Alces Malchis), or Moo.se-deer — Plate 

 21, fig. 71 — is an inliabitant of the northern regions of 

 both hemispheres. It is a large and ungainly-looking 

 animal, standing about six feet at the shoulders, and 

 furnished with massive palmated horns, which occa- 

 sionally weigh upwards of sixty pounds, and spread 

 out laterally over a space six feet in width. The head 

 alone measures upwards of two feet from the tip of the 

 muzzle to the occiput, the nose being hairy and swollen 

 out at the upper border. The eyes are small, the ears 

 long, the neck provided with a coarse mane, the body 

 short and rounded, and the tail only three or four inches 



in length. The fur is very coarse, rough, and wiry. 

 Respecting the habits of the Elk, we may observe that 

 it is naturally very timid, and when taken young is 

 easily domesticated. Its movements look awkward as 

 it glides along in a kind of shufiiing, ambling trot, but 

 when severely pressed it gallops \vith great rapidity. 

 Dm-ing the warm season it is gregarious and frequents 

 low swampy grounds, often taking the water, through 

 which it swims with marked facility ; resorting in cold 

 weather to sheltered forests. T!ie flesh of the Elk is 

 highly esteemed, and the hide extremely valuable. 



THE EEIN-DEER {Tarandus Rangifer), or Cari- 

 BOW — Plate 22, fig. 72 — is a native of the most north- 

 erly districts of both hemispheres ; bemg an animal of 

 the utmost importance to the inhabitants of tliose icy 

 regions. Space would fail us were we to enter minutely 

 into a consideration of the various purposes to which 

 this thoroughly domesticated species is applied ; or if, 

 on the other hand, we attempted to clear up the dis- 

 puted point as to whether the North American and 

 Lapland forms are one and the same species or entirely 

 distinct ; those who are interested in this question should 

 considt Mr. Andrew JIurray's Memoir, published in 

 the Edinhurrjh New Philosophical Journal for 1858. 

 The Rein-deer is furnished -nith cylindrical horns, and 

 on account of the great variety of shape which the 

 branches assume, any attempt to establish specific dis- 

 tinctions, merely on the characters of the antlers, must 

 necessarily be attended \n\h difficulty. The habits of 

 tliese animals are too well kno^vn to be here described 

 at any length. Elks undertake extensive migrations at 

 different seasons, with the view of obtaining a constant 

 suppl}' of food, which consists, for the most part, of 

 various species of lichen. The females are provided 

 with four mammse, two of which are spurious ; they 

 also support a pair of slender horns, very closely resem- 

 bling those of the male. 



THE WAPITI {C'ervus Canadensis), or Grey Moose, 

 is a large North American deer, standing about four 

 feet six inches at the shoulders. The horns are cylin- 

 drical, and weigh about thirty pounds. The fur is 

 redilish-brown ; the hair on the tlrroat of the male 

 being much elongated, and the rump in both sexes 

 marked by a patch of light-coloured hairs, bordered 

 on either side with a blackish streak. Tlie Wapiti is 

 a stupid creature, gregarious in its liabits, and often 

 utters a peculiar shrill cry, which, like a donkey's bray- 

 ing, is stated to be particularl}' disagreeable. Its flesh 

 is coarse and insipid. 



THE EED DEER {Ccrvus EUqihm), or CoilllON 

 Stag, is a native of the more temperate regions of 

 Europe and Asia, and though not so abundant in this 

 country as in former days — when the chase was the 

 pecidiar delight of English noblemen — yet it is still 

 sufficiently cared for in the ^\'ilds of Scotland and the 

 western isles, where the deer-stalker enjo3-s his health- 

 ful and exciting sport. The fur of the stag exhibits a 

 fulvous-bro\vn hue generally, the rump being marked 

 by a pale patch on eitlier side of the short, stumpy tail, 

 which is also of a light colour ; in the fawn the hide is 

 marked with whitish spots. The period of gesfcition 

 in the liind extends over eight months, the young 

 being produced in the month of May. During the 



