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CHAPTER XXy. 



THE MOOSE {ALOES MALGHIS). 



The deer family, known in Natural History as the Genidce, em- 

 braces a large number of distinct species which are to be found 

 scattered over various parts of Europe, Asia, and America; but 

 in Africa, except for one species, which is an inhabitant of Barbary, 

 the family would be unrepresented. In the Zoological Society's 

 gardens upwards of twenty different kinds have at sundry periods 

 been exhibited. The finest animals of the genus are the Moose 

 or Elk, the Reindeer, Red deer, Wapiti, and Luhdorf's deer. 



The male animals of all deer have horns, which in some species 

 attain enormous dimensions, and in others are only diminutive 

 points. To this rule, nevertheless, there is an exception, for the 

 small water-deer {JSydropotes inermis) found in China, is perfectly 

 destitute of antlers. The adult buck animal, however, is provided 

 with other organs of defence, for he has two projecting canine 

 teeth of considerable size and length. 



The horns or antlers in every way constitute conspicuous features 

 of the deer tribe, for not only are they highly ornamental, 

 but the process of their construction and development is of a very 

 wonderful nature, and one perfectly unique in the animal world. 

 With the exception of the reindeer, only the males possess these 

 horns, which differ from those of the antelopes in being caducous 

 and solid. They are composed of a bony substance that is at 

 first quite soft but becomes solidified when full grown. The horns 

 are shed and renewed annually, and have branches or palmated 

 extensions growing from the main stem ; whereas antelopes are 

 distinguished by having their horns, which are permanently re- 

 tained during life, hollow at the base, and set into the head like 

 those of the oxen. 



