350 THE ANTLERS OF DEER. 
pedicel, filling up the concavity in the top of the pedicel, 
stituting the seat of the new antler. It remains in this conditi 
till spring arrives, when intense activity is observed in 
covering, the temperature of which is greatly increased, and 
becomes exceedingly sensitive like any other inflamed part. It 
now observed to rise up appearing like a large blood blister, 
the rudiments of the fur on the cuticle are observed. It ri 
rapidly, forming within itself new systems of blood-vessels 
icel. Thus, is commenced the wall of the new antler which is 
built up rapidly by new deposits, maintaining about the si 
distance from the upper end of the column, and very nearly of 
full diameter of the perfected antler. As the wall rises it thich 
very slowly, the upper extremity presenting a thin serrated ed 
At first, the deposit presents the appearance of cancellated ti 
which is first filled up at the circumference and gradually re 
into Haversian canals and systems, which are supplied from 
periosteum as before stated. If now we examine a specimen 
full career of new growth, say eight inches long, and one inch 
diameter,'we shall find the upper two inches a mass of highly" 
flamed blood-vessels, very sensitive to the touch, while below we cai 
feel the established walls when the periosteum has become aU 
insensible. Let us dissect it and we find the cavity, large at 
upper extremity, gradually narrowing to the lower end of the 
where it may be less than a quarter of an inch in diameter, bu! 
opening does not terminate with the antler. It passes ie 
the pedicel where it may be a sixteenth of an inch in dian 
constituting the canal for the medullary artery. The whole } 
ternal portion of the pedicel is porous, admitting the pase 
the other vessels through it into the growing antler above, p* 
through the cancellated tissue which has formed above 
each progressing, in a proper ratio, so that the tip 
and snag is completed about the same time. By this time ge 
whole interior of the antler is filled with the cancellated © 
solidified to a good degree towards the surface. The e* 
