Notes on Antlers 



15 



When its full growth has been reached the tubercles of the 

 burr increase in size and squeeze the arteries which supply 

 the velvet and finally block them by strangulation. This 

 causes the velvet to die. Its death is probably attended by 

 some sense of itching, and the animal now rubs its horns 

 against a tree or post in order to relieve the feeling, and in 

 this way detaches the velvet and leaves the antlers clean. 

 These have, however, now been deprived of their surface 

 supply of blood, and having no internal supply they in turn 

 also die and simultaneously fall off. 



The pedestal of bone upon which the antler is mounted 

 varies much in height in different species of deer. It always 

 grows from the back of the frontal bone, like that of the core 

 in hollow-horned animals. It is longest in the muntjac. The 

 longer the pedestal the smaller the antler. In the muntjac 

 (allied to the little roebuck) the pedestal may be six or eight 

 inches long, but the antler is very small. 



A comparison may be drawn between the falling of antlers 

 and the falling of leaves, and another between the new growth 

 of antlers and the reproduction of limbs by crustaceans. 



Why is the velvet thick on the surface ? Clearly in order 

 to keep the surface warm and prevent contraction of the 

 arteries during exposure to cold wind. It is equivalent to 

 a great coat. 



At the same time that the antlers are growing the muscles 

 of the neck and shoulders are strengthening and becoming 

 bigger. 



The detachment of the antler is probably the same as that 

 of exfoliation of dead bone or of gangrenous parts. It is 

 effected by the persisting structures below. The centre is 

 absorbed first. 



The giraffe keeps its pedestals but grows no antlers on them. 



We must draw, of course, a very clear distinction between 

 horns and antlers. True horns are not solid but hollow, and 

 are formed on the outside of cores of bone upon which they fit. 

 Both the bone-core and its sheath or horn are permanent, and 



