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, 
yet 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 Cervide 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 oldet 
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 
