S AMBER HORNS. 25 



The pedicle on which the left horn grows instead of being perpendicular 

 to the skull, grows outwards ; the horn also grows outwards for & 

 inches, and then turns at a right angle to the usual position. The 

 pedicle of the right horn is also abnormal ; except at the lower portion 

 it cannot be seen, the horn appearing to grow straight out of the 

 skull. The inner tine of the left horn has been broken off. The 

 beam of the right horn splits into a fork in a curious manner. This 

 head measures, length 08 inches, span 40-^ inches. Both Nos. G and 

 7 were well grown stags in good condition, and there was nothing to 

 indicate any reason for their peculiar heads. No. 6 was a solitary stag. 

 No. 7 was in company of two hinds and two calves. No. 8 is an 

 instance of a third horn growing on a separate root or pedicle of its- 

 own — a rare kind of malformation. The third horn is a mere knob, 

 nearly an inch from the left horn ; this space was covered by skin. The 

 left horn seems to have little or no pedicle. The base of the left horn- 

 is 1^- inch lower than the burr of the right horn. There is no burr to 

 the left horn, except at the front. The right horn measures 32 inches, 

 the left horn 26 inches, and the knob 1\ inches at the rear and 1 inch 

 at the front. I have no heads of which the upper tines are of equal 

 length. I do not think you will ever find this to be the case in good 

 heads of over 3 feet in length. There is no means of knowing 

 exactly at what age a Samber has his best head. Animals in captivity 

 are not under natural conditions. It is well known that all deer grow 

 worse horns after they are past their prime. Their heads go 

 back. When in their prime, their antlers are thicker, longer 

 and better beaded than in old age. An old stag's head may h& 

 known by its smoothness and worn appearance. I have often had 

 it remarked to me by those who know no better when looking at a very 

 good head, " that must have been a very old stag. " On the contrary 

 the best heads are those of stags in their prime. Some of the very old 

 stags are hardly worth shooting. A Red Deer kept in a park begins to 

 go back in his head, I believe, when he is about 8 or 9 years old, so it 

 seems probable that a Samber is at his best when about that age too. 

 Samber usually shed their horns in April, but on the 2nd January 1903, 

 I saw a voung stag in velvet. His horns were about 8 inches long- 

 cylindrical, with the thickening at the top characteristic of the growing 

 horn. As he stood for several minutes within 40 yards of me, I 

 had a good look at him with glasses. I do not think I could kave made 

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