176 The Mammalia of Essex ; a Contribution towards a 



eight pounds is the average, but I once saw a female turn the 

 scale at ten pounds and a half. 



Lepus cuniculus. The Rabbit. — This destructive creature 

 is veiy common in all parts of Essex, and requires little 

 to be said about it ; its food, habits, and appearance being 

 familiar to all dwellers in the country. But it may not 

 be so well known that occasionally specimens occur which 

 in colour are quite black, and this without, as I believe, 

 any admixture of tame blood. 



RUMINANTIA. CER^^DiE. 



Cervus elephas. Red Deer or Stag. — I fear this beau- 

 tiful animal must be considered extinct in this county, 

 unless there should be a lingerer in Epping Forest, where 

 Bell in his ' British Quadrupeds ' says a few were found down 

 to the present century.^ 



Cervus dama. Fallow Deer. — This animal was very early 

 introduced into Britain, of which it is not therefore a 

 true native ; but as it exists in many parks in this county 

 in a semi-domesticated condition, I have thought fit to 

 introduce it into the list of our fauna. I see occasional 

 mention of deer in Epping Forest ; this species is the one 

 probably meant. It is to be hoped that the managers of 

 this lovely haunt of the Londoners will take steps to protect 

 the few there, and so add to the attractions of the woods. ^ 



Cetacea. 



The order Cetacea is one of the most difficult divisions of 

 Mammalia for practical study, especially for naturalists who 



8 [Eed Deer existed in Epping Forest as late as the year 1827. See 

 ' Proceedings,' i. xlvii. — Ed.] 



9 [The Fallow Deer still lives in the Forest in a wild state in very con- 

 considerable numbers, and the specimens exhibit abnormal characters, 

 perhaps tlie result of long isolation and inter-breeding. Mr. Harting is 

 studying the subject, and he has promised to bring it before the Club at 

 no very distant date. — Ed.] 



