Archive image from page 148 of Cuvier's animal kingdom arranged. Cuvier's animal kingdom : arranged according to its organization cuviersanimalkin00cuvi Year: 1840 RUMINANTIA. 137 Finally, in the genus of Stags, the prominences, covered for a while with a hairy skin Uke the other parts of the head, have at their base a ring of bony tubercles, which, as they enlarge, compress and obliterate the nutritive vessels of that skin, [commonly termed the velvet]. It becomes dry, and is thrown off: the bony prominences, being laid bare, at the expiration of a certain period separate from the skull to
Archive image from page 148 of Cuvier's animal kingdom arranged. Cuvier's animal kingdom : arranged according to its organization cuviersanimalkin00cuvi Year: 1840 RUMINANTIA. 137 Finally, in the genus of Stags, the prominences, covered for a while with a hairy skin Uke the other parts of the head, have at their base a ring of bony tubercles, which, as they enlarge, compress and obliterate the nutritive vessels of that skin, [commonly termed the velvet]. It becomes dry, and is thrown off: the bony prominences, being laid bare, at the expiration of a certain period separate from the skull to which they were attached ; they fall, and the animal remains defenceless. Others, however, are reproduced, generally larger than before, wliich are destined to undergo the same fate. These horns, purely osseous, and subject to periodical changes, are styled antlers. The Stags {Cervus, Lin.)— Are consequently ruminants which have beads armed with antlers ; but, if we except the Rein Deer, the females in no instance possess them, [save in rare individual cases ]. The substance of these antlers, when completely developed, is that of a dense bone vyithout pores or internal cavity : their figure varies greatly according to the species, and even in each species at different ages. These animals are extremely fleet ; live mostly in forests ; and feed on grass, the leaves and buds of trees, &c. Those species which have antlers either wholly or partially flattened may be first distinguished ; such as— The Elk, or Moose Deer (C. alces, Lin.).—As large as a Horse, and sometimes larger ; very high upon the legs ; with a swoln cartilaginous muzzle, and a sort of goitre, or variously shaped pendulous swelling, under the throat ; hair always very stitT, and of an ash-colour, more or less dark. The antlers of the male, at first dagger-shaped, and then divided inro narrow slips, assume, at the age of five years, the form of a triangular blade, dentelated on its outer edge, and borne on a
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