THE ANTLERS. 191 



commence their work at the articulation, and so loosen the antler 

 from its seat ; but even at that time, in many cases the suspen- 

 sion of the circulation through the articular plate is incomplete 

 for a time, and then the absorption on its lower surface is very 

 gradual, if it has even commenced, and it may take months before 

 the antler is loosened, while, as we have seen, if the testes are ab- 

 solutely removed, this work is at once commenced and rapidly 

 prosecuted, so that within a month at most the antler is thrown 

 off. But those who have supposed that the generative organs 

 of the male Cervidge are entirely dormant and incapable of ac- 

 tion from the time the antler is cast till it is again completely 

 renewed, are mistaken in their conclusions. I have seen both the 

 wapiti and the smaller deer copulate out of season, and after they 

 had cast their antlers, with fruitful results, so that the old theo- 

 ries on this subject are not founded on facts. It is no doubt true, 

 as a general rule, that the sexual organs are less stimulated, and 

 the male is not maddened by desire during the time when he is 

 deprived of this weapon of warfare, so much as he is when it is 

 in perfect condition ; and this is a wise order of nature to prevent 

 those combats which are excited by jealousy at a time when the 

 growing of the antlers operates as a sure bond to keep the peace, 

 for a single battle would utterly destroy them. No doubt a con- 

 sciousness of this weakness may have a quieting effect upon their 

 belligerent dispositions, for it does not entirely leave them with 

 the rutting season, but is manifested, though less recklessly, so 

 long as the weapon remains. 



We may admit that one physical body can only produce a 

 physical effect upon another body by a physical medium, and so 

 conclude that there must be a physical medium between the 

 testes and the antlers, specially designed and qualified to pro- 

 duce the effect observed ; but if so it is as yet not identified, and 

 we can only hope that some more ingenious and careful observer 

 may find it. The utmost we may safely say now is, that in some 

 way the testes enable or stimulate the proper blood-vessels to 

 carry into the antler a larger amount of earthy matter and there 

 properly deposit it, than they can do after the testes are re- 

 moved, presuming at the same time that the absence of the gen- 

 erative organs deprives these vessels of, or weakens other impor- 

 tant functions necessary to the full maturity of the antler. 



When the fact is established, that the testes exercise a potent 

 influence over the growth of the antlers of the deer, we might 

 expect that such growth would be entirely cut off by their re- 



