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Show 1879.] MR. E. R. ALSTON ON FEMALE DEER WITH HORNS. 297 for further particulars, which add much to the interest of the case. The doe in question was killed on the estate of Sir James Fer-gusson, Bart., of Kilkerran, Ayrshire, on the 5th January, 1879. The antlers were "in the velvet," one being a simple curved snag about six inches in length, while the other was represented by a short stump. The animal was in good condition, and was not barren ; for on the day she was shot she was accompanied by a last-year's fawn, and her nipples showed evident signs that she had recently been suckling. Most unfortunately the head was not preserved ; but Professor Flower has kindly called m y attention to the Skull of female Roe-deer, with antlers. skull of another fertile antlered doe Roedeer, which is now in the M u seum of the Royal College of Surgeons. This example was shot by the Earl of Egremont near Petworth, Sussex, in 1810 \ and presented by him to the Museum. The antlers, as shown in the drawing, have evidently been covered with the velvet. The right is a simple curved snag about three inches in length, with a well developed burr; the other is represented by a small mushroom-shaped burr without any beam. Lord Egremont in his letter expressly states that the Deer was " a very old and uncommonly large female, with two young ones in her." 1 Cat. Coll. R. Coll. Surg, part v. 1831, p. 17. The exact date given in Lord Egremont's letter is "2nd August, 1810;" but from the context it is evident that this is a misprint for April. |