i4 



The Museum Gazette 



NOTES ON ANTLERS. 



Antlers are the more or less branched horns grown on 

 the forehead of a stag or deer. They consist of solid bone 

 and are shed once a year. Each succeeding set is larger and 

 possesses more tines than its predecessor, thus proceeding 

 as has been said, 



From well to better, 

 Yearly self-surpassed. 



In the description of antlers the following terms are in use. 

 The rough ring at the base where the antler is detached is the 

 burr. The base of the antler below the burr is the pedestal or 

 stump. The main stem is the beam or shaft. The first branch 

 given off just over the forehead is the brow tine. The next 

 branch is the bez tine and the third the trez tine. The group of 

 points or snags into which the antler finally breaks up are the 

 suvroyals. An antler may be palmate by coalescence of the 

 surroyals, or it may show a "cup " at their base. The crown 

 of the antler is that part from which the surroyals spring. 

 The burr consists of nodules of bone. 



When the growth of new antlers is about to commence the 

 carotid arteries enlarge and there is a more abundant supply 

 of blood. A thick structure now grows from the rim of the 

 area from which the previous antler has fallen. In this 

 structure there are abundant blood-vessels and from its inner 

 surface bone is deposited. It is covered by a thick coat of fur, 

 and to this the name of velvet is given. All antlers in the 

 early stages of their growth are covered and kept warm by 

 their velvet. 



An antler has no cavity and forms no marrow. Its 

 solidity gives it strength. 



Is it as large in circumference at its base when it begins 

 growth as it will ever be ? Probably very nearly but not quite. 



