120 G. P. Hughes — The Red-Deer in Northumberland. 



all cases destitute of such weapons. These appendages vary much 

 in character, being cylindrical or rounded in some species, and 

 flattened and palmate in others. They are bony outgrowths from the 

 frontal bones of the cranium, and, being developed periodically,^ have 

 an important physiological significance. An extraordinary supply 

 of blood seems to be provided for these bony outgrowths at the 

 spring of the year, and the vessels surrounding the frontal eminences 

 enlarge. This increased vascular action results in the secretion of 

 formative bony matter, producing a swelling or budding at the 

 summit of the frontal bones, at the spot where the horns of the 

 previous season had separated. In the early condition the horn is 

 soft and yielding, and it is protected only by a highly vascular 

 periosteum and delicate integument, the cuticular portion of the 

 latter being repi*esented by various fine hairs, closely arranged. 

 From this circumstance the skin is termed "the velvet." As 

 development goes on, a progressive consolidation is effected ; the 

 ossification proceeds from the centre to the circumference, and 

 a medullary cavity is ultimately produced. While this is taking 

 place a corresponding change is observed at the surface. The 

 periosteal veins acquire a great size, and by their presence occasion 

 the formation of grooves on the subjacent bone. At the same time 

 osseous tubercles, of i^'ory hardness, appear at the base of the stem. 

 These coalesce by degrees, enclosing within their folds the great 

 superficial vascular trunks, which are gradually closed and cease to 

 flow. The supply of nutriment being thus cut off", the first stage of 

 excoriation is accomplished by the consequent shrivelling up and 

 decay of the periosteal and integumentary envelope. The full 

 growth of the antlei's is now terminated, and the animals, being 

 aware of their strength, endeavour to complete the desquamation 

 by rubbing them against any tree or other hard substance that 

 may lie in their path. This action is termed burnishing. After 

 the rutting season the antlers are shed, to be again renewed in the 

 ensuing spring; and every year they increase in development, until 

 they attain their maximum growth.^ 



The fossil remains of deer, which have been plentifully found in this 

 country and the North of India, indicate that when unmolested by 

 man and in a wild state they attained a far greater size and probably 

 age than at the present day. 



The period of gestation of the hinds extends over 8 months, 

 the young being produced in the month of May. During the winter 

 both sexes collect in vast herds ; but in the rutting season the stags 



1 " In the Deer [CervidcB) the antlers consist wholly of bone which grows from the 

 frontals, the periosteum and finely-haired integument, called ' velvet,' coextending 

 therewith during the period of growth ; at the end of which the formative envelope 

 loses it vascularity, dries, and is stript off, leaving the bone a hard insensible weapon. 

 After some months' use as such the horns, or more properly ' antlers,' having lost 

 all vascular connection with the skull, and standing in relation thereto as dead 

 appendages, are undermined by the absorbent process and are shed ; whereupon the 

 growth of a succeeding pair commences. The shedding of the antlers coincides 

 with that of the hair, and, with the renewal of the same, is amual." — Owiii. 



^ See Richardson's "Museum of Natural History." 



