2351 
NOTE ON A MALFORMED ANTLER OF A RED DEER 
(Cervus elaphus), 
FROM THE PEAT AT SUTTON-ON-SEA, LINCS. 
T. SHEPPARD. F.G.S., 
Curator of the Municipal Museums, Hull. 
WE have recently received a curiously malformed antler of a red 
deer, which was found in 1906 by Mr. H. Bocock at Sutton-on- 
Sea, Lincolnshire. It occurred in the peat bed, generally known 
in these parts as the ‘submerged forest,’ immediately opposite 
Sutton. Mr. Bocock has previously found normal antlers of 
the red deer in the same deposit, but has never seen anything 
like the specimen now being described. I am indebted to a 
Lincolnshire friend for his interest on our behalf. 
As will be seen from the photographs (Plate XXIV.), the 
antler is by no means normal; the tines branching out in a very 
irregular fashion. There are in all seven large tines remaining, 
and formerly there were nine, but two were cut away in order 
that the specimen might more readily fit against a passage wall 
to be used as hat pegs! Of the two tines cut away I am 
informed that one measured 7} ins. and the other 4 ins. in 
length. Of those remaining, what.is apparently the brow tine 
is 14 ins. in length, and 7} ins. in circumference where it joins 
the main stem. The next tine to this in the ascending order is 
a little over a foot in length, and is 9 ins. in circumference at 
its base, and from this one of the branches referred to has 
been sawn. 
In addition to the large tines, there are numerous small 
excrescences which are apparently partially developed tines. 
The ‘horn’ or shaft of the antler is, as will be seen from the 
photograph, unusually short and broad, and somewhat flattened. 
Its greatest measurement (round the corona) is 2 ft. gins. Just 
above the base of the horn proper it is 124 ins. in circumference. 
Immediately above the brow tine, at a distance of 4} ins. above 
the last measurement, it is 1 ft. in circumference ; 4 ins. higher 
still it is 1 ft. 2 ins.; a further 4 ins. and it is 12} ins. ; and 
immediately above the last tine it is 7 ins. in circumference, 
from which place for about 8 ins. the antler gradually tapers 
to a point. ae 
The antler has evidently been cast, and appears to have two 
places of attachment to the skull; the principal one being 
1907 July 1. 
