68 
Botanical literature. 
found chiefly on the males, though the Rein deer is an exception, both sexes 
being provided with them. Like the second class, they are not true horns, but 
consist of very hard bone : its density indeed is nearly as great as ivory. These 
animals when very young have no antlers; soon, however, a thickening and 
induration of the skin takes place over two points of the frontal bone, corres¬ 
ponding to the future antlers. These points shortly become adherent to the 
subjacent bone, and bony matter is deposited in them. At the time for the 
growth of the antlers, the temporal and carotid arteries, which supply the head 
with blood, become very much enlarged. The skin over the bony tubercles is 
absorbed, and a membrane exceedingly vascular is formed, which is in fact a 
kind of periosteum. This grows in the direction of the future antler, secreting 
bone from its inside surface ; branches are given off, and lastly the palm. The 
grooves which are seen on antlers are caused by the blood-vessels in the mem¬ 
brane, which, as soon as it has performed its part in secreting the bone, dries up 
and then peels off. These antlers begin to grow at the early part of winter. 
They are deciduous yearly, the manner in which they are detached being very 
curious, and well worthy of notice. It is as follows. After the horns have 
attained their full size, and the vascular membrane has been removed, the ves¬ 
sels at the lower part—where the tubercles were formerly—still continue secret¬ 
ing, and bone is thrown out; this presses on the arteries which pass through open¬ 
ings in the bony circle at the base of the antler, and at length obliterates them. 
Absorption of the bone immediately below the bur now goes on, and cuts the 
antler off. This process is seldom completed, as the horn is generally broken off 
by the animal striking it against trees, &c. A little blood is effused, but the 
wound soon heals up. The Elk has immense antlers, with very wide palms, 
which often weigh fifty or sixty pounds. Antlers are found in both sexes in the 
Rein-deer, but larger in the male than in the female. 
December 18, 1837. 
NOTICE OF THE WORKS MOST INTERESTING TO THE STUDENT 
OF INDIGENOUS PLANTS. 
By Edwin Lees, F.L.S., M.E.S.L. 
When a neophyte enters upon the study of any science, his first inquiry is 
for the books that will be of the greatest service to him in the pursuit he has 
entered upon. Now although advice is exceedingly cheap, books unfortunately 
are not so, and as every student is not a “Prince Maximilian,” it becomes 
