162 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
length. The whole surface of the horn is covered by a soft 
hairy membrane, which, from its resemblance to that substance, 
is called velvety and the horns are said to be ‘ in the velvet’ 
until the month of August, by which time they have attained 
their full size. After the horns are entirely formed, the mem¬ 
brane becomes entirely detached, and this separation is hasten¬ 
ed by the animal, who appears to suffer some irritation, or 
itching, which causes him to rub the horns against trees, &c. 
“ Almost all who have written upon this species, have dwelt 
upon the peculiar apparatus, situated beneath the eye, at the 
internal angle, which the French naturalists call larmiers or si¬ 
nus lacrymales. This apparatus is a slit or depression, obliquely 
placed below the inner angle of each eye, and lined with a na¬ 
ked membrane, which secretes an unctious matter, not unlike 
the ceramen or wax of the ear. Dr. Smith, in the paper we 
have above referred to, says that ‘ the hunters assure us that 
the Elk possesses the power, by strictly closing the nostrils, of 
forcing the air through these apertures in such a manner as to 
make a noise which may be heard at a great distance.’ 
“ This, however, is inaccurate; it is true that the Elk, when 
alarmed, 01 his attention is strongly excited, makes a whistling 
noise at the moment, that these lacrymal appendages are opened 
and vibrated in a peculiar manner. But having dissected these 
appendages in an Elk, recently dead, we are perfectly assured 
that there is no communication between the nostril of the ani¬ 
mal and these sacs. The bone behind these appendages is 
cribriform, or reticular, but we could discover no duct nor pas¬ 
sage by which air or any fluid could find its way. The pecu¬ 
liar use or importance of this structure is still unknown; it 
exists in several species of the genus, as already indicated in 
the generic characters, and nothing but a close and careful exa¬ 
mination of these animals in a state of nature will lead us to a 
correct understanding of their purpose. Barton’s notion that 
‘it seems in these animals to serve the purposes of an auxiliary 
breathing apparatus, and of an organ of smelling,’ is altogether 
speculation, founded upon a * conjecture’ as to the structure of 
