1879.] MR. E. R. ALSTON ON FEMALE DEER WITH HORNS. 



297 



for further particulars, which add much to the interest of the case. 

 The doe in question was killed on the estate of Sir James Fer- 

 gusson, Bart., of Kilkerran, Ayrshire, on the 5th January, 1879. 

 The antlers were "in the velvet," one being a simple curved snag 

 about six inches in length, while the other was represented by a 

 short stump. The animal was in good condition, and was not 

 barren ; for on the day she was shot she was accompanied by a last- 

 year's fawn, and her nipples showed evident signs that she had 

 recently been suckling. Most unfortunately the head was not pre- 

 served ; but Professor Flower has kindly called my attention to the 



Skull of female Roe-deer, with antlers. 



skull of another fertile antlered doe Roedeer, which is now in the Mu- 

 seum of the Royal College of Surgeons. This example was shot by 

 the Earl of Egremont near Petworth, Sussex, in 1810 \ and presented 

 by him to the Museum. The antlers, as shown in the drawing, 

 have evidently been covered with the velvet. The right is a simple 

 curved snag about three inches in length, with a well developed 

 burr ; the other is represented by a small mushroom-shaped burr 

 without any beam. Lord Egremont in his letter expressly states 

 that the Deer was " a very old and uncommonly large female, with 

 two young ones in her." 



1 Cat Coll R Coll. Surg, part v. 1831, p. 17. The exact date given in Lord 

 Egremont's letter is " 2nd August, 1810 ;" but from the context it is evident 

 that this is a misprint for April. 



