18^ THE DEER OF AMEPdCA. 



the same side was of perfect form, showing that the pedicel had 

 not been injured. 



The Ceylon buck in ray grounds arrived when his antlers 

 were about half grown, and one of them was badly bruised afhd 

 bent over, yet it gi-ew on to maturity without showing any signs 

 of disease, but without symmetry or definable form. 



I have in my collection many specimens of deformed antlers, 

 some of which I have illustrated. One without a beam on either 

 antler but consisting only of snags or tines growing from the 

 burr, others having apparently double or treble beams on the 

 same antler. These deformities, I think, have arisen from inju- 

 ries received in the early stage of the growth of the antlers. 

 They would, I doubt not, have been shed at the proper time, and 

 been succeeded by antlers of the proper form. Without injury 

 there may be abnormal growths on the antlers. As where tines 

 appear in unnatural positions or places, or where the beam is bi- 

 furcated with regular palms on each prong, as shown in the il- 

 lustration of the antlers of the Scandinavian elk in Stockholm, but 

 there are also unusual growths throughout the animal kingdom, 

 for which it would often be difficult to assign a satisfactory cause. 



The effect of emasculation upon the growth of the antlers of 

 the Cervidae is very marked, and has been the subject of long and 

 careful observation. Although it has been long understood that 

 this operation does produce some effect upon the growth of the 

 antler, ideas have been very crude as to what that effect is. 

 This I thought very remarkable, from the well known fact that 

 castration has long been practiced by the Lapps upon their domes- 

 ticated reindeer, and so its effect should be well understood by 

 them, and opportunities for learning these effects by naturalists 

 should have been abundant. 



A careful investigation of the subject in Lapland, explained 

 the matter very satisfactorily. 



Early in July, when at Tromso, in Norwegian Lapland, I vis- 

 ited a wealthy Lapp, named Anders Nilsen Heika, and carefully 

 examined his large herd of reindeer, many of which were lying 

 about within a few feet of me, and interviewed their owner for 

 several hours as to their habits, treatment, etc. He was intelli- 

 gent and candid, and seemed anxious to impart all the informa- 

 tion possible. Many of my questions involved points which had 

 never occurred to him before, and when this was the case, he 

 frankly said so, that no undue weight might be given to his recol- 

 lection or impression. 



