Artiodactyla — The Beer-tribe. 51 



repeated with great regularity at the same period of each 

 year.* 



In young animals the antlers are simple (see Fig. 60 C) and 

 in those species which attain a great complexity this is acquired 

 gradually in successive annual growths. Each antler consists 



Fig. 61. — The Gigantic Irish Deer Cervus(Megaeeros)giganteus (Blumenbach), 

 from sheil-marl beneath the peat, Ireland. 



of a main stem or beam t and usually of one or more branches or 

 tynes, of which the one immediately above the burr is termed 

 the broiv-tjne. 



* The antlers of the deer tribe are shed and renewed annually, increasing 

 in size with age, a new "snag " or tyne marking each year, being added to 

 the new antler till adult. The horns of the oxen are never shed. 



E 2 



