THE ANTLERS. 173 



stance, when it is matured it is comparatively a solid bone, with 

 more or less branches, and there is an absence of the medullary 

 canal, with its marrow, arteries, and nerves ; but, as we shall see, 

 we have their equivalents, and more, for the blood vessels trav- 

 ersing the interstices within are so expanded during the rapid 

 growth of the antlers as to meet the anomalous demand for the 

 elements of growth during that short but exciting period. 



I will now explain briefly the system of blood-vessels provided* 

 to nourish the antler during its rapid growth. First, the external 

 supply from the periosteum. These are an extension of a part 

 of the arteries of the periosteum, which persistently covers the 

 pedicel which forms the seat of the new antler. Second, a part 

 of the arteries of the jjeviosteum of the pedicel turn in and over- 

 spread the top of the pedicel at the articulation, and thence pass 

 up through the interior of the new antler. And third, we find 

 •^ number of arteries which pass up through the interior of the 

 pedicel and into the growing antler. During the period of 

 growth, many of all these three sets of arteries are of enormous 

 size as compared with the blood-vessels with which internal 

 bones are supplied. 



Having thus briefly stated the system of blood-vessels pro- 

 vided for the growth of the new antler, let us now go back to 

 where we left the top of the pedicel, — the concave seat of the 

 antler overgrown with the thick vascular covering, Avhich was an 

 extension of the periosteum, which persistently surrounds the 

 bony process of the skull, upon which the future antler is to be 

 grown. Whether this has been accomplished months before, as 

 when the antler was cast off early, or but a day or two before, 

 as in the case of our elk, at the proper time when the active 

 growth is to commence, in the blood-vessels passing up through 

 the periosteum, the circulation becomes greatly accelerated, the 

 temperature is greatly increased, the parts become exceedingly 

 sensitive to the touch, and we have the appearance of a high 

 state of inflammation, though in reality but a very active nat- 

 ural action. As before stated, the thick, massive periosteum is 

 raised up from the hone beneath into a convex protuberance. 

 Beneath, the space is occupied by a new system of blood-vessels, 

 by far the greatest number shooting inwai'd from the arteries in 

 the periosteum, still others rising up through the bone below, 

 the canals through which have suddenly become greatly enlarged 

 by the absorption of the inner laminae. As yet nothing like 

 ossification has taken place, and if the part be now inspected it 



