188 



that's it ; 



terminating in palmated expan- 

 sions, with finger-like points. 

 The horns of the gnu, 8, are very 

 large at the hase ; they descend 

 outwardly, and turn upwards, 

 forming an enormous hook. Par- 

 ticular species have horned males 

 only ; while others have both 



males and females horned, the 

 horns of the males being gene- 

 rally most developed. Some 

 horns are hollow, others are 

 solid. Some animals retain their 

 horns, while others shed them 

 periodically. 



Horn differs from bone by 



535. 



being soft, flexible, tough, semi- 

 transparent, and capable of being 

 cut and compressed into a variety 

 of forms. It is employed to 

 make handles for knives, forks, 

 &c, spoons, combs, snuff-boxes, 

 and various other articles. It 

 was formerly used instead of 

 glass for windows, and is still 

 employed for lanterns. The im- 

 ports of horn into Great Britain 



from foreign countries amounts 

 to nearly four thousand tons 

 yearly. 



The stag begins to acquire his 

 antlers (horns) in the spring, and 

 loses them early in the spring 

 succeeding. His first antlers, 11, 

 are straight and simple — he is 

 now termed a brocket ; the next 

 year's pair, 12 to 14, are larger, 

 and have a brow antler directed 



