13 EINAR LÖNNBEKG, STUDIES ON UUMINANTS. 



ill ihe plaue of attack with retrenchment of matenaJ. The structure of the core riiay 

 1)6 called interinediate between that described in Cephalop/nis above and tliat ^vbicll later 

 oii will be described from the gazelles. The bony tissue is rather lirni and deiise, but 

 not so compaet as in CejjhalojÅus. In the centre are seen soiiie large canals for the 

 main bloodvessels. The peripherical layer is traversed by smaller canals and pores which 

 tlistally become niore and more numeroiis so that the upper half assumes an almost 

 tubular aspect reminding one of the condition found in the gazelles, although not so 

 coarse. Basally the outer layer is nearly compaet with only few pores and it occupies 

 011 all sides nearly one third of the diameter of the core. Surrounded by. this iirm wall 

 is cl basal portion of comparatively coarse spongiosa. The horns are probably used as 

 daggers, but are also pretty well protected from breakages, especiall}^ in the sagittal plane, 

 by the tirin structure of nearly all parts. The main strength lies in the horny sheath. 



The second species of this subfamily of which I have had material is Cervicapni 

 arundinum (Bodd.).^) The specimen on liand is not fullgrown, the length of the horns 

 along the curve only being about 27 cm. The horns are bent in an even curve first 

 backwards, then upwards so that the tips become directed forwards. They are com- 

 paratively stout, the gi-eatest basal diameter equals about one sixth of the length of the 

 organ. The horny sheath is ringed at the base but smooth at the tip. It is compara- 

 tively thick and firmly attached to the core by means of longitudinal ridges on its 

 interiör surface -which fit into corresponding grooves on the latter. The core extends 

 through 63 % of the entire length of the horn and shows an, especially at the base, 

 rugged and grooved surface. The largest of these longitudinal grooves are found at the 

 niiddle of the lateral surface and correspond to ridges on the interiör surface of the 

 sheath. The section of the core is somewhat trigonally ovate. The longest axis of the 

 section lies in the trontal (transversal) plane and the broad end is directed laterally. 

 The core consists almost exclusively of compaet bony tissue which is traversed only by . 

 some few canals for bloodvessels in the central parts. In the interiör of the base the 

 tissue is, as usual, less dense and consists of a coarsely porous but hardly spongious 

 portion, situated a littlc nearer the aiiterior than the posterior side. From this description 

 it can be concluded that the horns of the reedbuck are strongiy built organs. But from 

 the peculiar shape and the remarkable direction it is also evident that they are not used 

 in quite the same way as most other horns. The shape of the core is that of a T beam, 

 but so placed that its greatest power of resistance is against a force from the side. 

 There are also several arrangements against the evil influences of torsion, as the develop- 

 ment of the ridges of the sheath and the finn fixation of the latter to the core etc. 

 It seenis therefore to me, although I h&xe not seen any statements in the literature 

 about this, that it is probable that the reedbuck uses its horns as weapons with hooking 

 movenients, sideways and forward. To withstand the danger of breakage and torsion 

 as consequences of such movements the whole of the mechanical arrangement seenis well 

 adapted. Per analogiam raay be concluded that such horns of Cervica])rine antelopes 

 which have a similar shape also have a similar structure, depending upon a similar function. 



') Tbis beloiigs also to the Zoological State Museum, Stockholm. 



