DEER. 
123 
it is supposed that some of those in hotter climates 
do not cast them annually. The palmated form of 
the horn, again, seems to be more restricted to those 
animals inhabiting an arctic or northern latitude, and 
is considered by Major Smith as a provision to re- 
move the snow from their food. 
On the first commencement of the horn in the 
young animals, it is perceptible like a small lump. 
This advances and reaches the condition of a true 
born of a small size, and is cast at the proper sea- 
son. The wound, which at first bleeds, is in a few 
hours covered with a fine film : the vessels are cica- 
trized, and the production of the next horn imme- 
diately commences with a burr round the old wound. 
When the rutting season begins, generally in spring, 
this reproducing power is exerted to the utmost. 
The vessels from the roots swell, and an immense 
degree of secretion, accompanied with heat and irri- 
tation, is generated. The horn shoots rapidly at this 
period, enveloped in a fine and soft downy cover- 
ing, which serves as a protection in its tender state 
from the weather and insects. When it has reach- 
ed its greatest development, or when the power of 
the supplying vessels is exhausted, an irritation in- 
duces the animal to rub against trees or rocks, which 
inflicts wounds on the external covering: the ves- 
sels, gradually exhausted, dry, an<l the covering be- 
comes like a skin, and falls or is rubbed oft, leaving 
the horn hard and solid, and bearing traces of the 
course of the many vessels which had been employ- 
