THE EUMINANT OEDEE. 291 



Every year, at a certain time, that is, immediately after the 

 young are j)roduced, the antlers fall off, and in growing again 

 acquire an additional branch, up to the date when they attain the 

 limit of maturity peculiar to each species. 



The falling off and periodical renewal of these bony, highly 

 developed excrescences, is really a very curious phenomenon. It 

 seems as if it ought to take several years for the horns to regain, 

 as they do, equal or even larger dimensions than their prede- 

 cessors ; nevertheless, they shoot out all complete in the space 

 of a few weeks. Still, the explanation of this fact is simple 

 enough. The skin which covers the base of the antlers of this 

 animal is traversed by a large number of blood-vessels, which 

 supply the phosphate of lime necessary to solidify the bony 

 parts. Up to the time when the antler has acquired the full 

 growth which it is to attain in each year, this skin continues 

 to receive the requisite flow of blood ; it retains, in fact, its 

 living action. But as soon as the growth is complete, and the 

 ossification finished, the burrs increase in size, strangulate the 

 vessels, and stop the flow of the alimentary fluid. This skia 

 then withers and comes away from the antler, which, thus laid 

 bare and no longer receiving nourishment, gradually wastes 

 away or decays, and falls ofi" at the end of a few months, again 

 making its appearance in the approaching season. 



Except in the Reindeer, among Ruminants it is the ex- 

 clusive attribute of the males to shed their antlers. There can 

 be no doubt that some relation exists between the generative 

 organs and these adornments ; for they fall off after the breeding 

 season, and their duration might doabtless be prolonged by means 

 of castration. It is probable that the various functions devolving 

 on the female, such as gestation, parturition, and giving suck, 

 divert the nourishing fluids from the head and concentrate them 

 in other organs, and this is the physiological cause which deprives 

 the weaker sex of antlers. A tact which confirms this likely 

 hypothesis, is that antlers are often seen in barren females. 



Nearly all the members of this family are remarkable for the 

 elegance of their shape, the dignity of their attitudes, the grace 

 and vivacity of their movements, the slenderness of theii- limbs, 

 and the sustained rapidity of their flight. They have a very short 

 tail ; moderately sized and pointed ears ; their nostrils are generally 



V 2 



