230 COMMON I;iaTlSTI ANIMALS 



History/ mentions a charter of liberties o-ranted bj^ 

 King John to the people of Devonshire in which roe 

 deer are mentioned^ and he also tells ns there were 

 roe deer in Pickering Yale in Yorkshire in Edward 

 IIFs time. In the north of Scotland the wnld roe 

 deer are widely distributed, but they constantly 

 change their ground and try to get into woods 

 adjoining arable land. Mr. Millais says in his 

 experience the best are always to be found within a 

 radius of twenty miles of the tow^is of Perth, Forres, 

 and Beauly, and that there are probably more of 

 these little deer in the woods round CaAvdor Castle 

 than anywhere in Scotland. 



The re-introduction of the roe to Ireland has not 

 been, on the whole, successful, though those round 

 Lissadell in Sligo produce horns which are equal to 

 tliose of any German roe. 



Roe deer are not gregarious like the red and 

 fallow. They may be seen consorting in small 

 parties of two or four. During August and Sep- 

 tember the bucks go up into the hills ; they then 

 return to their mates and stay with them till the 

 following May, wdien the doe drives off her calves 

 of the previous year, and prepares for the birth of 

 her two young ones, w^iich are usually born about 

 the first week in June, and as a rule are male and 

 female. The buck may remain near lier or go in 

 search of another mate. Though they generall}' 

 appear to consort in pairs, they are not strictly 

 monogamous. Sometimes during the winter, Mr. 

 Millais says, four or five does mny be seen Avith one 

 old buck. Eoe deer feed from before dawn till the 



