196 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



volume would do in a cylindrical form, but should the vicissi- 

 tudes of battle expose it to a lateral force, it would be less able 

 to withstand the shock. As we shall hereafter see, the Moose, 

 like all the others of this genus, join battle with a great rush, 

 which must often try the strength of the antlers to the utmost, 

 vet we have no account of the antlers being broken short off, 

 but it frequently happens that the tines or snags are dislocated. 

 But for the great elasticity possessed by all antlers over all other 

 bones, owing to the larger proportion of animal matter which 

 they contain, a single battle would serve to destroy them. 



Another peculiarity of the antlers of the Moose, is that they 

 are very considerably less in volume, just above the burr where 

 they are cylindrical, than farther up. They increase in volume, 

 including the tines and palms, till above the middle of the whole 

 length of the antlers, and then diminish to their extremities. 



In proportion to their volume they are much shorter than the 

 antlers on any of the other species, very rarely reaching a length 

 of thirty inches, although they sometimes exceed sixty pounds in 

 weight. This limited length in proportion to bulk, of course 

 adds greatly to the strength of the weapon. 



This enormous growth is accomplished in about three months' 

 time. The time when the antlers of the Moose are cast is quite 

 variant, and depends much on the age of the animal. It seems 

 to be a universal law with the Cervidge that the younger the ani- 

 mal is the longer is the antler in maturing and the later is it 

 carried. 



The time when the active growth of the antler commences, 

 depends upon the latitude, or rather on the advancement of the ; 

 season. In its southern range, say in Nova Scotia, the growth ^ 

 usually commences late in April, or the time when the sap com- 

 mences to flow in the trees. On the adults the external growth 

 of the antler is completed by the first of September, when the 

 velvet is rubbed off, which is the commencement of the rutting 

 season. This lasts from forty to fifty days, as we shall have 

 occasion to observe hereafter. It is during this season that the 

 antler is most required as a weapon of warfare, when it is all 

 alive with the internal growth, and is more elastic and capable 

 of enduring a greater strain, than after it dies by the destruction 

 of the nutrient vessels, as has been before related. On the older 

 specimens the antler is sometimes shed in December, but by far 

 the largest proportion are cast during January and February, 

 while some of the younger specimens carry their antlers till 



