The Descent of Man

thinner, and less branched than in the male, it
might naturally be thought that, at least in this
case, they must be of some special service to
her. The female retains her horns from the time
when they are fully developed, namely, in September,
throughout the winter until April or
May, when she brings forth her young. Mr.
Crotch made particular enquiries for me in
Norway, and it appears that the females at this
season conceal themselves for about a fortnight
in order to bring forth their young, and then
reappear, generally hornless. In Nova Scotia,
however, as I hear from Mr. H. Reeks, the female
sometimes retains her horns longer. The
male on the other hand casts his horns much
earlier, towards the end of November. As both
sexes have the same requirements and follow
the same habits of life, and as the male is destitute
of horns during the winter, it is improbable
that they can be of any special service to the
female during this season, which includes the
larger part of the time during which she is hor-