342 DR. J. MURIE ON THE [May 26, 
family by the Markoor (Capra megaceros, Hutton), that noble-looking 
Himalayan Goat, the elementary composition of the hair under the 
same microscopic power as the preceding may be thus defined. The 
entire thickness of the hair is less than in the Red Deer and greater 
than in Cuvier’s Gazelle ; the cortical substance is relatively about 
equal in depth to the last and decidedly greater than in the former 
or in the Wapiti Deer. The medulla bears an increase of ratio 
with the Gazelle’s, but a decrease compared with the other two forms. 
The cells are much smaller than in the Deer, though larger than in 
the Antelopes; and, as if manifesting closer affinities to the latter, 
besides their narrow transversely ovate character, they further simu- 
late that type in their compression in the direction of the long axis 
of the hair-tube. 
Reverting to the hair of the Prongbuck, it thus becomes evident 
that it is widely dissimilar in its constituent elements to the Antelope 
and Goat families. In some respects it approaches nearer to the 
Deer tribe, though still far from akin. The closest alliance, as far as 
the hair is concerned, is towards Sheep, though it may be noted that 
in the marked denticulate condition of the medullary cells it is im- 
pressed with a character of its own. 
The form of the upper lip in the hollow-horned Ruminants Ogilby 
has assumed to be a guide of considerable importance, inasmuch as 
from it we can discriminate affinities of resemblance exercising in- 
fluence, not only on the animal’s habits and economy, but vesting the 
premaxillaries with special characters. The Prongbuck belongs to his 
section of browsers in having no mufille, and a hairy nose of the ovine 
or antilopine tvpe, as Gray duly appends to its generic characters. 
Concerning the horns, or rather the process whereby they are 
shed, Mr. Bartlett’s and Dr. A. Canfield’s observations are most 
satisfactory, and excellently related. I agree, however, with Drs. 
Gray and Sclater as to the nearer structural resemblance of the horns 
to those of the Bovide than the Cervide, notwithstanding their 
deciduous nature. Indeed, as Buffon* has asserted of the Ox, and 
Ogilbyt of the Oryx, Singsing, and Leucoryx, these ruminants 
offer an example of corneous exfoliation. The last-mentioned 
authority expresses himself as having verified Buffon’s observations, 
which the great French naturalist’s contemporaries ridiculed. After 
comparing the structure of the young and mature bovine’s horns, 
Ogilby says, “As in the case of the second dentition, the permanent 
organ is developed under, or rather within, the other, and, by its 
growth, gradually carries it upwards, and supports it like a sheath or 
scabbard. The young horn, thus severed from the vessels which 
formerly supplied it with nutriment, dries up, bursts, from the ex- 
pansion of the permanent horn within it, and exfoliates in large 
irregular stripes, leaving the latter with the finely polished surface 
and solid, sharp, attenuated points which distinguish them. As far 
as my observations enable me to judge, this exfoliation takes place 
only once during the life of the animal, and that at the period of ado- 
lescence, immediately before the appearance of the first annulus.” 
* Hist. Nat. t. iv. p. 459. + Trans. Zool. Soe. vol. ii. p. 53. 
