The Descent of Man

to lay the horns horizontally back; and in this
attitude cannot see the ground distinctly." (34.
Richardson, 'Fauna Bor. Americana,' on the
moose, Alces palmata, pp. 236, 237; on the expanse
of the horns, 'Land and Water,' 1869, p.
143. See also Owen, 'British Fossil Mammals,'
on the Irish elk, pp. 447, 455.) The tips of the
horns of the great Irish elk were actually eight
feet apart! Whilst the horns are covered with
velvet, which lasts with red-deer for about
twelve weeks, they are extremely sensitive to a
blow; so that in Germany the stags at this time
somewhat change their habits, and avoiding
dense forests, frequent young woods and low
thickets. (35. 'Forest Creatures,' by C. Boner,
1861, p. 60.) These facts remind us that male
birds have acquired ornamental plumes at the
cost of retarded flight, and other ornaments at
the cost of some loss of power in their battles
with rival males.