THE ANTLERS. 217 



set of antlers. The antlers were in the velvet, were inferior in 

 size as Avell as imperfect in form. Their deficiencies in tines are 

 manifest at a glance. They were about equal in length to the 

 dag antler of an early fawn, but the tines show that they were 

 second antlers. 



Fig. 19. Hayden's Elk. 



But the most remarkable feature of these antlers is their re- 

 tarded growth, which may be attributed to the altitude of the 

 home of the individual, for injuries to the antler when growing 

 do not retard their maturity. With the photograph before me, 

 I spent much time in comparing it with the growing antlers on a 

 number of two year old Elks in my grounds. It was early ap- 

 parent that these were much in advance of those on the Hayden 

 Elk. I was from home at the time when mine reached the same 

 stage of maturity which Dr. Hayden's had attained when it was 

 killed ; but on the 29th of July, just one month earlier than 

 that time, I had a fine view of the whole band of Elk, with most 

 of the two year olds together, and as near to me as I desired 

 them for the inspection. All showed both brow and bez tines, 

 completeljr formed ; showing upon one or both antlers a royal- 

 tine, all being bifurcated near the ends. So far as I could judge, 

 these were about two weeks in advance of those on the Hayden 

 Elk ; and as that was killed a month later than the time when I 

 made these observations, we see that from some cause the growth of 

 the antler on the mountain Elk was retarded at least six weeks. 



