114 British Deer and their Horns 
unusual palmation, beam, and number of points, another curious feature being that for several 
years its brows were forked at the point—a very unusual occurrence. This remarkable deer 
was born in the park at Warnham during the summer of 1880, and even at the early age 
of four commenced to throw out an extraordinary amount of horn-growth. After the 
park was dressed with lime and bone-dust the effect was to still further increase what 
would under any circumstances have been a remarkable head. In 1891, 1892, and 1893 
the horn-development was at its best, particularly so in 1892, when the stag was eleven 
years of age. In 1894, although the head was still extraordinary, and might have thrown 
SCOTCH STAGS* HEADS OF TO-DAY 
great antlers for another two years, it was thought advisable to shoot him, as he was falling 
away in the quarters, as well as showing decay in the horn-points. I saw this stag alive in 
1890. Even then his horns were so heavy for him that he had an undignified habit of 
creeping about with his nose almost on the ground. 
Personally I do not take very much interest in horn-abnormalities, as they are seldom 
beautiful and only occasionally interesting. The most curious monstrosity in horn-growth 
is that obtained by castration. This operation when performed on an adult stag is generally 
fatal, but when the animal survives it during horn-growing time, the results are similar to 
the German head figured on p. 107. When the velvet is rubbed off, the horns are seen to 
be imperfectly formed and spongy. There being no true bone in their composition, they 
