4S8 DR. G. HERBERT FOWLBB OH VARIATION [Jliue 19 * 



at all ; this appears also to have been Owen's opinion. They are 

 more or less cancellous above the burr. 



There is, however, a more complex type of antler formed after 

 simple castration. Of the four specimens in the College of Sur- 

 geons which illustrate this type, the age at which castration was 

 performed is implied in only one case ; but it is probable, from a 

 comparison of this specimen (1565) and its group with specimens 

 recorded as having been castrated at birth (1555, 1556) and their 

 group, that these next four are from deer castrated fairly late in 

 life, after they had put up horns. 



In three of these four specimens there has made its appearance 

 between brow- and tray-tynes, a third tyne, which, I suggest with 

 some diffidence, may be regarded as a bay-tyne. In an Elaphine 

 deer this bay-tyne lies a little above the brow, often somewhat 

 towards the outer side of the beam ; and this is the position of the 

 third tyne in these abnormal antlers. 



1561. No statement of age at castration. The outline bere given (fig. 2) is of 



the right antler from the outer side ; it consists of a heavy beam, a 

 brow-tyne, and a smaller extra tyne above it. Measurements : burr to 

 tip, along the curve, 16 in. ; brow-tyne 3 in. ; extra tyne 1 in. The left 

 antler was 1£ in. longer, and devoid of the extra tyne. 

 1565. " The antlers of a castrated buck eight years old." " They were deve- 

 loped after castration, and were retained two years before the animal 

 was killed." Presumably therefore the buck was castrated at the age of 

 six years. A remarkable feature of these antlers, which are still on a 

 frontlet, is their very unequal development. The left might pass for 

 the antler of a "sore," or buck in its fourth year ; it has a well-developed 

 brow- and tray-tynes, and two points on the palm. Tbe right antler, on 

 the other hand (fig. 3), strongly resembles the preceding specimen (1561 | : 

 it has a strong thickened beam, a short bifurcating brow-tyne, and the 

 little extra tyne which may perhaps represent a bay-tyne. On the inner 

 side, at the level of this lesser tyne, is a minute wart. Measurements: 

 burr to tip, along the curve, 15^ in. ; brow-tyne 2^ in. ; extra tyne 1| in. 

 It is possible, judging from two heads shortly to be described (1567 and 

 Mr. Wallace's specimen), that the castration in this case was less com- 

 pletely effected on the left side than on the right. 



1562. No statement of the age at castration. The single antler (fig. 4) exhibits 

 three tynes and a beam with two points, but little palm. Measure- 

 ments : burr to tip, along the curve. 19J in. ; fork of brow to fork of 

 extra tyne 3 in. ; fork of extra tyne to fork of tray, 4 in. ; brow-tyne 

 projects 2^ in., extra tyne lj in., tray-tyne Oj in. 



1504. No statement of age at castration. The single antler (fig. 5) exhibits a 

 well-developed brow-tyne, and a palm with four points, but no tray- 

 tyne. Measurements : burr to tip, along the curve, 15 j in. 



Of these four specimens, of which one certainly, the rest pro- 

 bably, were castrated after they had put up horns, all had been shed 

 except the specimen which had been killed (1565); that is to say, 

 the horns of castrated bucks can be shed ; the burr is always 

 excavated below, instead of being convex or flat. 



1560. The buck which carried these antlers was castrated in August (probably 

 in its fourth yearj ; by that date the antlers were already "burnished," 

 i. e. the skin or velvet had been rubbed off from them, and the antler 

 was incapable of further development. They were shed in the following 

 October, instead of May. In this specimen therefore the effect of 

 castration was to hasten the shedding or " mewing." Unfortunately the 



