328 
but observes, that the horn of the New England black moose best 
agrees with those found fossil in Ireland 
Dr. Mortimer adds, in a note to this paper of Mr. Dale’s : “ As to 
the large horns found fossil in Ireland, I have taken particular notice 
(in several I have seen), besides the main horns being palmated, that 
the brow-antlers are likewise palmated ; which is a circumstance 
peculiar to the rein-deer species, being of great service to them in 
removing the snow, in order to get at the grass or moss underneath, 
which is their chief subsistence in Lapland.” 
M. Cuvier observes : — “ II est cependant certain que les bois fossiles 
d’lrlande ne peuvent venir ni de l’elan ni du renne : nous n’avons pas 
besoin de la prouver au long pour ce dernier, puisque leur difference 
saute aux yeux; l’andouiller qui descend sur le front, et qui a seal 
donnelieualacomparaison,etant toujours simpledans lefossile,et jamais 
branchu comme dans le renne.” The fact however is, as M. Cuvier has 
stated it, that the brow-antler in the rein-deer is palmated, and that in 
the fossil animal it is generally not : it is however sometimes flattened. 
It now remains to examine into the degree of accordance between 
these fossil horns and those of the elk, with the horns of which animal 
these horns have been most frequently supposed to agree. The first 
comparative view furnishes us with these facts, that the fossil horns 
far surpass in size the horns of any known elk ; and that, in the horns 
of the elk, the antlers are much more numerous than in the fossil horns; 
so that the fossil horns, although by far the largest, have the fewest 
antlers! In addition to these, M. Cuvier notices the three following 
essential differences : 1. The antler, which in the fossil horn descends 
from the bottom of the beam, over the forehead of the animal, does not 
exist in the elk. 2. The fossil horn has antlers passing out from the inner 
edge of the palm, which is not the case with the horn of the elk. 3. The 
palm of the fossil horn enlarges by degrees, and takes the form of a fan ; 
whilst that of theelk is widest at itslower part, and narrowsas it ascends. 
Another very important difference results from the large cartilaginous 
