The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. [Note on Prong-horned deer.] CUL-DAR88.86. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2021. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR 87-90 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man 2d ed. (1874-1877).

[86]

Prong-Horned Deer: As Horns [few words illeg] If the Prong-Horn were to fight together it might be an advantage for them to increase & so both wd increase & yet when a sudden [illeg] must give an advantage

A critic in the Nation well objects that the Horns of progenitor of the deer were probably at first simpler & why did they become branched, if it be an advantage to the present var. to have simple Horns. To this I can make no answer. But I may remark that in case of sheep & goats the latter conquered by [2 words illeg] of attack & it is just possible that the Deer with branched antlers when [forced] to fight with those with simple Horns may be victorious for possibly better defense weapons.

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)