204 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
growth of a larger pair. If the animal is healthy, 
and the conditions of the locality favourable, each 
annual shedding is succeeded by an increased 
size. The base or foundation grows broader 
and more solid every year, and the spike horn 
forms a tine. As age increases, the horns 
become antlers, as the tines not only enlarge, 
but extend in number, until the animal reaches 
the prime of its existence; this would be when 
about twelve years old. At that age the red- 
deer of Scotland might have ten or twelve points, 
sometimes fourteen, when the stag becomes 
“ imperial,” the points sprouting from a thickened 
portion of the horn, which forms a cup. Every 
pointed projection, however small, is termed a 
“ point ”; thus a stag of twelve will frequently 
possess only ten good tines, and a couple of 
projections of 2 inches in length will make it 
twelve. 
The growth of antlers is extremely rapid. 
The young horns commence in the beginning of 
May, and they are sufficiently hard beneath the 
downy skin to commence to peel in the first 
week of August. While growing they are 
nourished by small blood - vessels, and, as by 
degrees they become developed, the points 
denote the maturity of the formation. When 
these become acute, the bone is thoroughly set 
and the cleansing process is commenced. The 
small veins dry up, and become obtuse; the 
downy skin, which is known by the name of 
