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Show 488 DR. G. HERBERT FOWLER ON VARIATION [June 19 at all; this appears also to have been Owen's opinion. They are more or less cancellous above the burr. There is, however, a more complex type of antler formed after simple castration. Of the four specimens in the College of Surgeons which illustrate this type, the age at which castration was performed is implied in only one case ; but it is probable, from a comparison of this specimen (1565) and its group with specimens recorded as having been castrated at birth (1555, 1556) and their group, that these next four are from deer castrated fairly late in life, after they had put up horns. In three of these four specimens there has made its appearance between brow- and tray-tynes, a third tyne, which, I suggest with some diffidence, m ay be regarded as a bay-tyne. In an Elaphine deer this bay-tyne lies a little above the brow, often somewhat towards the outer side of the beam; and this is the position of the third tyne in these abnormal antlers. 1561. No statement of age at castration. The outline here given (fig. 2) is of the right antler from the outer side; it consists of a heavy beam, a brow-tyne, and a smaller extra tyne above it. Measurements : burr to tip, along the curve, 16 in. ; brow-tyne 3 in.; extra tyne 1 in. The left antler was l^in. longer, and devoid of the extra tyne. 1565. " The antlers of a castrated buck eight years old." " They were developed after castration, and were retained two years before the animal was killed." Presumably therefore the buck was castrated at the age of six years. A remarkable feature of these antlers, which are still on a frontlet, is their very unequal development. The left might pass for the antler of a "sore," or buck in its fourth year ; it has a well-developed brow- and tray-tynes, and two points on the palm. The right antler, on the other hand (fig. 3), strongly resembles the preceding specimen (1561); it has a strong thickened beam, a short bifurcating brow-tyne, and the little extra tyne which may perhaps represent a bay-tyne. On the inner side, at the level of this lesser tyne, is a minute wart. Measurements : burr to tip, along the curve, 15J in. ; brow-tyne 2^ in.; extra tyne If in. It is possible, judging from two heads shortly to be described (1567 and Mr. Wallace's specimen), that the castration in this case was less completely effected on the left side than on the right. 1562. N o statement of the age at castration. The single antler (fig. 4) exhibits three tynes and a beam with two points, but little palm. Measurements : burr to tip, along the curve, 19^ in. ; fork of brow to fork of extra tyne 3 in.; fork of extra tyne to fork of tray, 4 in.; brow-tyne projects 2-| in., extra tyne 1£ in., tray-tyne 0£ in. 1564. N o statement of age at castration. The single antler (fig. 5) exhibits a well-developed brow-tyne, and a palm with four points, but no tray-tyne. Measurements: burr to tip, along the curve, 15^ in. Of these four specimens, of which one certainly, the rest probably, were castrated after they had put up horns, all had been shed except the specimen which had been killed (1565); that is to say, the horns of castrated bucks can be shed ; the burr is always excavated below, instead of being convex or flat. 15*60. The buck which carried these antlers was castrated in August (probably in its fourth year); by that date the antlers were already "burnished," i. e. the skin or velvet had been rubbed off from them, and the antler was incapable of further development. They were shed in the following October, instead of May. In this specimen therefore the effect of castration was to hasten the shedding or " mewing." Unfortunately the |