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Show 1880.] MR. J. E. HARTING ON BARTRAM's SANDPIPER. 513 The horn above the ' pedicel' is still slightly movable on this latter part, which is still markedly warm to the touch, particularly in its upper half, just below the annular constriction which separates the two parts of the horn. It is here, I am inclined to believe, that the new formation of horn is going on, the apical, harder part being pushed, by the growth of new matter, further and further away from the pedicel. I may add that the * snag' or ' prong' is not yet visible, but may be felt as a slight eminence at the base oi the ' pedicel,' close to the skull, on the anterior margin of the horn. " O n making a longitudinal vertical section of a horn oi Antilocapra, I find that there is a more or less open canal in the substance of the horn, continued for nearly the whole extent of the main part of the horn, but considerably nearer its posterior than its anterior margin. In its upper part are still observable minute blood-vessels, which have become naturally injected. The horn has obviously been formed around this dermal papilla, which, whilst the surrounding parts have become hard and corneous, has remained soft and vascular for a while ; but eventually its tissues have shrivelled up. It will be readily understood how in this way the papilla has gradually been converted into a hollow channel by the growth and elongation of the horn formed originally round it. " In conclusion, I can only express m y surprise that Prof. Cope has apparently overlooked Judge Caton's excellent chapter on the Prongbuck in his 'Antelope and Deer of America' (1877). Judge Caton himself has apparently witnessed the phenomenon several times; and his accouut of the growth of the horns (pp. 25-35) agrees very well with m y own observations, excepting as regards the point of origin of the ' prong.' If the shedding of the horns is ' not periodical or even frequent,' it is certainly strange that both his and the Society's specimens should all have exhibited it. I may remark that the period of the year assigned for shedding the horns by Mr. Caton also quite corresponds with the dates of shedding here (November 7 and October 19)." [P.S. To-day (Dec. 2) the "prong" is still concealed beneath the hairy covering of the pedicel, but is now very easily perceptible to the touch. The hairy covering of the " pedicel" is thicker now than six weeks ago, apparently owing to the growth of new hairs round it. The horn above is still movable on the " pedicel."- W . A. F.] Mr. J. E. Harting, F.Z.S., exhibited and made remarks on a specimen of Bartram's Sandpiper (Actiturus bartramius), which had been purchased freshly killed in Leadenhall Market. Mr. Harting had made searching inquiries as to the origin of this specimen, which had resulted in the conclusion that it had been killed in Lincolnshire. Mr. Rye had examined the fragments of Coleoptera contained in the stomach, and believed them to be referable to British species. |