THE ANTLERS. 



195 



The pedicels on which the Moose antlers grow are situate at 

 the top of the head, and are from seven to nine inches apart, 

 with a lateral projection. From these the antlers grow out lat- 

 erally in horizontal positions. A few inches from their bases they 

 commence an upward and forward curve, so that the palm usually 

 occupies nearly a vertical position with an anterior inclination, 

 and is laterally compressed. 



I know of no other living species possessing this lateral pro- 

 jection of the antler ; but the remains of the extinct Irish elk 

 shows not only a lateral, but a depressed position of the antler 



Double-palmed Antler from a Scandinavian Elk. 



for a short distance from the head, when it takes a slightly up- 

 ward curve scai'cely more than sufficient to bring it to a horizon- 

 tal position, which it maintains for nearly its whole length, so 

 that the extreme points of the antlers are about as far apart as 

 their enormous length will permit. I believe there is not any 

 existing representative of the genus which presents this extraor- 

 dinary spread of the antlers. 



The palms on the antlers of the Moose are oblong, say twice 

 as long as they are wide, but in this they show great variations. 

 The tines on the borders of the palms are variant in size and 

 numbers on different individuals, and are stoutest and most abun- 

 dant on the anterior borders, a position in which they are pre- 

 sented to the adversary in battle. When the edge of the broad, 

 thin palm is presented with its deeply serrated blade in front, it 

 may bear the shock of battle with more resistance than the same 



