18 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



American, we cannot expect to arrive at any correct result, 

 until we have the means of making a more complete compara- 

 tive examination than has yet been done of the two species 

 alongside of each other. Notwithstanding the greater dis- 

 tance of its locality, we possess both better materials and 

 more accurate information on scientific points regarding the 

 species from North America than that from Lapland. It 

 is to the latter that our inquiries should now be directed, and 

 more accurate information sought for on such points as the 

 periods of growth and shedding of the horns, referred to in 

 my previous communication, and in Mr Mackenzie's letter. 

 His statements on this point have been confirmed to me by 

 Mr Hargrave, who also informs me, that the head with distorted 

 horns, sent last year, which was figured in the first part of this 

 paper, was that of a young animal, not more than two years old. 

 He mentions, that a slight bend is common in the first year ; 

 that this becomes of the distorted form above referred to in the 

 second year, but afterwards disappears. I was misled, by the 

 teeth being much worn, into the supposition that it was an old 

 animal. These worn teeth must be the milk teeth ; and we 

 thus have incidental information as to the period the animal ^ 

 carries them. 



Information on such points becomes of importance, because 

 the North American and Lapland species are so closely allied 

 to each other, that we cannot expect to find distinctions of a 

 prominent nature, and must be content with the accumulation 

 of those of a more subordinate character. I may notice, that 

 I find the view which I adopted — viz., that the species are dis- 

 tinct — has also been entertained by Professor Spencer Baird 

 of America, who, in his recent " General Report upon the 

 Zoology of the several Pacific Railroad Routes, Part I.— 

 Mammal," includes two species of rein-deer as inhabiting the 

 northern shores of North America (the Rangifer caribou and 

 R. Grcenlandicm), and both distinct from the Lapland deer; at 

 the same time admitting that their distinctness is questionable. 



Moose Deer (Cervus Alces, Lin.). — Mr Hargrave has had 

 the kindness to send me a magnificent head and horns of this 

 fine elk, which is another animal as to whose identity with its 



