174 Cervid^.— — MAMMALIA. Cervid^t:. 
is effected, the ossification proceeds from the centre to 
the circumference, and a medullary cavity is ultimately 
j)roduced. While this is taking place, a corresponding 
change is observed at the surface. The jjeriosteal 
veins acquire an enormous size, and by their presence 
occasion the formation of grooves on the subjacent 
hone. At the same time osseoTis tubercles of ivory 
hardness appear at the base of the stem; these coalesce 
by degrees, and inclose within their folds the great 
superlicial vascular trunks, which are thus rendered 
impervious. The supply of nutriment being thus cut 
off, the first stage of exuviation is accomplished by the 
conseqi.ient shrivelling up and decay of the periosteal 
and integumentary envelopes. The full growth of the 
horns is now consummated, and the animals being- 
aware oi their strength, endeavour to complete the 
desquamation by rubbing them against any hard sub- 
stances which may lie in their path. This action is 
technically termed “burnishing.” After the rutting 
season, the horns are shed, to he again renewed in the 
ensuing spring ; and every year they become more 
perfect, as represented in the accompanying woodcut, 
fig. G3. The letter references respectively indicate the 
Fig. 6,3. 
DevelopraRnt of the liorns of the Red Deer. 
several stages of development following upon that of 
the second year, in which the horn has the form of 
a simjde unhranched stem, a. Like the antelopes, the 
stags are very swift of foot ; hut most of them live 
witliin, or in the immediate neighbourhood of large 
forests, browsing on grass, leaves, various herbs, and the 
shoots of young trees. Fossil remains of deer are very 
numerous both in tertiary and recent formations; those 
of the Bramatherium and Sivatherium discovered by 
Dr. Falkener in the Sivalik hills of Northern India, 
showing that in former times some members of this 
family attained the most gigantic proportions. 
THE ELK {Alces JMalchis), or Moose-deer — Plate 
21, fig. 71 — is an inhabitant of the northern regions of 
both hemispheres. It is a large and ungainly-looking 
animal, standing- about six feet at the shoulders, and 
furnished with massive palmated horns, Avhich occa- 
sionally weigh upwards of sixty pounds, and spread 
out laterally over a space six feet in width. The head 
alone measures upwards of two feet from the tip of the 
muzzle to the occiput, the nose being hairy and swollen 
out at the upper border. The eyes are small, the ears 
long, the neck j)rovided with a coarse mane, the body 
short and rounded, and the tail only three or four inches 
in length. The fur is very coarse, rough, and wiry. 
Bespecting the habits of the Elk, we may observe that 
it is naturally very timid, and when taken young is 
easily domesticated. Its movements look awkward as 
it glides along in a kind of shuffling, ambling trot, hut 
when severely pressed it gallops -^vith great rapidity. 
During the warm season it is gregarious and frequents 
low swamp}’ grounds, often taking the water, through 
which it swims with marked facility; resorting in cold 
weather to sheltered forests. The flesh of the Elk is 
highly esteemed, and the hide extremely valuable. 
THE EEIN-DEER {Tarandus Rmgifer), or Cari- 
BOtv — Plate 22, fig. 72 — is a native of the most north- 
ei-ly districts of both hemispheres ; being an animal of 
the utmost importance to the inhabitants of those icy 
regions. Space wmdd fail us were we to enter minutely 
into a consideration of the various purposes to which 
this thoroughly domesticated species is applied ; or if, 
on the other hand, we attempted to clear up the dis- 
puted point as to whether the North Amei’ican and 
Lapland forms are one and the same species or entirely 
distinct ; those who are interested in this question should 
consult Mr. Andrew lilurray’s Memoir, published in 
the Edinburgh New Philosoiihical Journal for 1858. 
The Rein-deer is furnished with cylindrical horns, and 
on account of the great variety of shape which the 
branches assume, any attempt to e.stablish specific dis- 
tinctions, merely on the characters of the antlers, must 
necessarily be attended with difficulty. The habits of 
these animals are too well known to be here described 
1 at any length. Elks undertake extensive migrations at 
I different seasons, with the view of obtaining a constant 
supply of food, which consists, for the most jrart, of 
I various sjjecies of lichen. The females are provided 
with four mammae, two of which are spm-ious ; they 
also support a pair of slender horns, very closely resem- 
bling those of the male. 
THE WAPITI {Cervus Canadensisj, or Grey Moose, 
is a large North American deer, standing about four 
feet six inches at the shoulders. The horns are cylin- 
drical, and weigh about thirty pounds. The fur is 
I'eddish-brown ; the hair on the throat of the male 
being much elongated, and the rump in both sexes 
marked by a patch of light-coloured liairs, bordered 
on either side with a blackish streak. The Wapiti is 
a stupid creature, gregarious in its habits, and often 
utters a peculiar shrill cry, which, like a donkey’s bra}-- 
ing, is stated to be particularly disagreeable. Its flesh 
is coarse and insijud. 
THE RED DEER {Cervus Elagihus), or Common 
Stag, is a native of the more temperate regions of 
Europe and Asia, and though not so abundant in this 
country as in former days — when the chase was the 
peculiar delight of English noblemen — yet it is still 
sufficiently cared for in the wilds of Scotland and the 
western isles, where the deer-stalker enjoys his health- 
ful and exciting sport. The fur of the stag exhibits a 
fulvous-hrown hue generally, the rump being marked 
by a pale patch on either side of the short, stumpy tail, 
which is also of a light colour ; in the fawn the hide is 
marked with -whitish spots. The period of gestation 
in the hind extends over eight months, the young 
being produced in the month of May. During the 
