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MR. R. I. POCOCK ON 



gradually, and with nearly equal rapidity, increase in length, the 

 anterior growing forwards and the posterior backwards. In the 

 Sambar [Rusa, text-fig. 108, D) and some other species they show 

 a marked inclination upwards ; so that at one stage the antler may 

 be likened somewhat to a short-stalked Y, and at this or even at a 

 later stage in deer like the Sambar {Rusa) and others which have 

 no " bez "-tine, the antler may be indift'erently described as an 

 " unbranched beam with a brow-tine" or as a " forked beam " or 

 as a biramous antler. The anterior and posterior branches some- 

 times, as in Cervus eldi, grow at approximately the same speed 

 until the anterior has almost attained its limit ; but usually the 

 growth of the posterior tine is from the first more rapid. However 

 that may be, the equivalence of the two branches in the early 

 stages is plain enough ; but afterwards this becomes less and less 

 evident as the posterior branch continues to lengthen and 

 develops its accessory tines. 



Text-fig. 109. 



Five stages (A to JE) in the growth of an antler of Hucervus diivaucelli. 

 a, anterior branch or " brow-tine " ; p, posterior branch or " beam." 



These facts are shown in the annexed figure (text-fig. 109), 

 representing five stages in the growth of an antler of a specimen of 

 the Swamp Deer or Barasingha (Racervus duvaucelli). These were 



