1894.] nr the axtlebs of the fallow deer. 489 



antler put up in the next year is not recorded. The antlers are of 

 course normal. 



1558 and 1559. Antlers in the fifth aud sixth year of a buck " from which the 

 testes, but not the spermatic cords, had been removed soon after it was 

 born." I do not understand this statement, since the spermatic cords 

 are never " removed " in castration, but at most their lower ends. It 

 may perhaps mean that the testis was simply cut away from the epidi- 

 dymis ; in this case I cannot help fancying that some part of the testis 

 must have escaped the operation, for the antlers are perfectly normal. 

 They were formed and shed annually ; but they are slightly smaller, 

 were retained longer, and retained their velvet longer than those of 

 entire bucks. The specimens, as they stand with their present label, are 

 in direct contradiction to all the other specimens of this series, and are 

 probably an example of the same result as the next specimen (1557). 



1557. Antler of a specimen from which the half of each testicle had been re- 

 moved soon after birth (fig. 6). The general development of the antler 

 is normal, but much slighter than in the entire buck; as the palm is 

 narrow, the three points appear unusually long. The antler was shed 

 after the fourth year. Measurements : burr to tip, along the 

 curve, 18f in. 



The remaining specimen of this collection has the same history 

 as that of Mr. Wallace. 



1567. Cranium and antlers of a buck, "from which the left testis had been 

 removed, showing a corresponding arrest of development of the left 

 antler." '"The velvet was retained longer than usual on both antlers."' 

 The right antler (fig. 7) is that of a full-grown buck, showing not more 

 than the usual individual variation in the points. The left one (fig. 8) 

 is very short, carries a rudimentary brow-tyne, and is curved backwards 

 over the parietals. Measurements : right antler, burr to tip, along the 

 curve, 20-^ in. ; left antler, same measurement, 5| in. 



Mr. Wallace's specimen (fig. 9) is stated also to be from a " rig," or half- 

 gelding. The right antler is slightly developed, but shows a very 

 great abnormality; it has brow- and tray-tynes and three points, of 

 which the lowest is further inwards towards the middle line than is 

 usual except in old heads. The left antler has a well-developed brow, a 

 bifurcating (? tray-) tyne, and a thin beam. Measurements : left antler, 

 burr to tip along the curve ll^in. ; brow 5 in. ; tray to bifurcation '2\ in., 

 its forks b^ in., 2| in. respectively : right antler 14 in. The tradition 

 of the head is to the effect that in this case the right testis, i. e. that of 

 the side opposite to the abnormal antler, was removed. 



Summary of the foregoing specimens : — 



1. Complete castration at birth may result in the formation of 

 simple dags (1555, 1556). Three other specimens (1563, 1569, 

 1566) resemble these, but the age at castration is not stated. 



2. Castration late in life is recorded of only one specimen (1565). 

 Tbere is great asymmetry in the antlers l , the one being of a 



1 It is of course not always easy to castrate an adult completely, and a small 

 portion of testis may have been left on this side (cf. 1567, and Mr. Wallace's 

 specimen and Russell's Exper. hi.). But even if castration have been completely 

 effected, the presence of spermatozoa in greater quantity in one epididymis or 

 vas deferens may be sufficient to affect that side ; I am informed that in horses 

 gelded late in life (e.g. funeral horses, in which the operation is deferred in 

 order to obtain the crest) the temper is as bad as or worse than in a stallion, 

 until they have been put to a mare — an observation which shows the marked 

 effect of the mere presence of spermatozoa in the vas deferens upon the 

 organism. 



