24 PLEISTOCENE MAMMALIA. 



at Dublin. The left brow tine is, however, in some cases larger than the right, as is 

 commonly the case in the Reindeer. 



(b) Young Antlers. 



Cuvier alludes to the lack of knowledge of the young antlers, and Owen (1846) 

 makes a somewhat similar remark. It is a singular fact that these statements are 

 even now nearly as true as when they were originally made. In the great collection 

 at Dublin, although there are a few antlers (cf. Text-figs. 2 and 5) which are not 

 fully grown, there are no complete examples of really young ones. Owen, however, 

 figures three antlers which he remarks " appear to indicate progressive epochs in the 

 age of the animal." His figures and descriptions are appended, the lettering being 

 altered in accordance with that adopted here : 



" The first (Text-fig. 3, a), which apparently corresponds with the state of the antlers 

 in the fourth year in the Fallow Deer, is five feet in length and fourteen inches across 

 the palm ; it presents a simple cylindrical brow antler (c) ; a short and simple bez 

 antler (d) ; the hind branch almost straight, and only two long branches from the 

 fore-part of the palm, which terminates in three short straight obtuse points, the 

 middle being the longest. The second figure (Text-fig. 3, b) shows an expansion and 

 flattening of the brow antler, an elongation of the bez antler and of the anterior 

 branches of the palm, and the prolongation of the three terminal points into branches, 

 the total number of branches being eight. The length of the antler, following the 

 curve, is six feet ; the greatest breadth of the palm fifteen inches. This form of 

 antler corresponds with that at the fifth year in the Fallow Deer. In the third figure 

 (Text-fig. 3 c) the brow antler is expanded and bifurcate ; the bez antler is likewise 

 expanded and forked, but this is a very rare variety. The palm is much increased 

 in breadth and sends off six branches besides the posterior one, the number of 

 points in this antler being eleven. The length of the antler, following its curve, is 

 seven feet, the breadth of the palm thirty inches. Such an antler would indicate the 

 Megaceros to have reached the prime of its age, like the ' crowned Hart ' of the 

 seventh or eighth year." 1 



(c) Comparison of the Antlers with those of other Deer. 



As Megaceros antlers have been compared with those of the Elk, the Reindeer 

 and the Fallow Deer, it may be well to indicate the points of resemblance and 

 difference. 



In the Elk the antlers agree with those of Megaceros in their depressed position 

 and in the great expansion of the crown or palm. The antlers differ from those of all 



1 It is probable that the antlers figured by Nehring, on which he founded his race G. riijji. 

 may, as he at first concluded, have belonged to a young individual. 



