724 MR.A.D. BARTLETT ON THE AMERICAN PRONGBUCK. [Noyv. 28, 
Fig. 4. 
and the skull, which they supposed to be due to that year’s growth. 
A still further proof bearing upon this conclusion will be equally well 
seen in the fine specimen now before the meeting, kindly lent by my 
friend, Mr. Moore, from the Derby Museum at Liverpool; this ex- 
ample is evidently from a larger and older animal, as is shown by the 
superior size of its horns. The core upon which the freshly-deve- 
loped horn rests has been removed from the hollow horny cavity ; 
and it will be seen that it has already attained a length of 63 inches, 
in this respect being larger than that of the Society’s animal when 
first shed. 
One remarkable feature yet unnoticed is the absence in the new 
horns of the curved or hooked point. This part of the subject 
necessarily requires further observations during its growth; but I 
have already noticed that the extreme horny point is moveable at the 
apex of the bony core. This suggests to my mind the possibility of 
the point assuming a contrary direction during its growth, probably 
by an accident ; and this would well account for the remarkable dis- 
position of the specimen now before you from the Liverpool Museum, 
described and figured in the Society’s ‘ Proceedings’ for 1855 (p. 10), 
by Dr. Gray, under the name of Antilocapra anteflexa. I am there- 
fore inclined to believe that this individual does not represent a dif- 
ferent species, but a deformity of growth. 
Having, I hope, at least, proved beyond all doubt the deciduous 
nature of the horns of the Prongbuck, and alluded to what I con- 
sider its affinities, and these considerations being founded principally 
upon the character of the horns, I am obliged to admit the great 
difficulty I see in the classification or arrangement of the Ruminantia 
upon this character only, seeing that in both Deer (Cervus) and 
Antelopes the females, in some instances, carry horns, and in the 
smaller members of the family the males as well as females are 
without these appendages. Nevertheless I believe there is no other 
