1880.] MR. J. E. HARTING ON BARTRAM's SANDPIPER. 5 13 



The horn above the 'pedicel' is still slightly movable on this 

 latter part, which is still markedly warm to the touch, particularly 

 m Its upper half, just below the annular constriction which separates 

 the two parts of the horn. It is here, I am inclined to believe, that 

 the new formation of horn is going on, the apical, harder part being 

 pushed by the growth of new matter, further and further away 

 trom the pedicel. I may add that the « snag ' or ' pron"- ' is not 

 yet visible, but may be felt as a slight eminence at the base of the 



pedicel, close to the skull, on the anterior margin of the horn. 

 T r ^° '^^'^■'"g ^ longitudinal vertical section of a horn oi Antilocapra 

 1 fand that there is a more or less open canal in the substance of 

 the horn, contmued for nearly the whole extent of the main part of the 

 horn, but considerably nearer its posterior than its anterior marcrin 

 In Its upper part are still observable minute blood-vessels, which 

 have become naturally injected. The horn has obviously been 

 formed around this dermal papilla, which, whilst the surrounding 

 parts have become hard and corneous, has remained soft and 

 vascular for a while ; but eventually its tissues have shrivelled up It 

 will be readily understood how in this way the papilla has gradually 

 been converted into a hollow channel by the growth and elongation 

 ot the horn formed originally round it. 



"In conclusion, I can only express my surprise that Prof Cope 

 has apparently overlooked Judge Caton's excellent chapter on the 

 I^rongbuck in his 'Antelope and Deer of America' (18/7). Judo-e 

 Caton himself has apparently witnessed the phenomenon several time°- 

 and his accouut of the growth of the horns (pp. 25-35) agrees verv 

 well_ with my own observations, excepting as regards the point of 

 origin of the 'prong.' If the shedding of the horns is 'not 

 periodical or even frequent,' it is certainly strange that both his 

 and the Society's specimens should all have exhibited it. I may 

 remark that the period of the year assigned for shedding the horns 

 by Mr. Cat on also quite corresponds with the dates of sheddin* 

 here (November 7 and October 19)." ° 



[P.S. To-day (Dec. 2) the "prong" is still concealed beneath 

 the hairy covering of the pedicel, but is now very easilv perceptible 

 to the touch. The hairy covering of the " pedicel " is' thicker now 

 than SIX weeks ago, apparently owing to the growth of new hairs 

 round it. The horn above is still movable on the « pedicel "— 

 v\ , A. F.] 



Mr. J. E. Harting, F.Z.S., exhibited and made remarks on a 

 specimen of Bartram's Sandpiper {Actiturus bartrnmhis), which 

 had been purchased freshly killed in Leadenhall Market. Mr. 

 -UartiHg had made searching inquiries as to the ori^^in of this 

 specimen, which had resulted in the conclusion that it had been 

 kil ed m Lincolnshire. Mr. Rye had examined the fragments of 

 Coleoptera contained in the stomach, and believed them to be 

 referable to British species. 



