94 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



Shropshire with the number of Deer in each, is copied 

 from Mr. Whitaker's book, on the "Deer Parks of 

 England," 1892. 



Acton Burnell 180 Henley ... 70 



Apley ... 150 Longnor ... 25 



Attingham ... 200 Loton ... 100 



Boreatton ... 70 Manor House Park 39 

 Chetwynd ... 115 Mawley ... 100 



Hawkstone ... 300 Oteley ... 90 



The Deer in these parks are all more or less tame, and 

 are fed by the keepers in winter, but besides these we 

 have in the neighbourhood of Ludlow, a herd of per- 

 fectly wild Fallow Deer. They reside on the Whitcliff 

 range of Woods, the Hay Park, the High Vinnals, and 

 the Woods of Elton and Gatley. These form an almost 

 unbroken range between Ludford Park and Wigmore. 

 It is believed that the Deer have had the run of these 

 woods for centuries, but their origin is uncertain. 

 Probably they originally sprang from animals escaped 

 from some of the neighbouring parks. At present there 

 are several small parties roaming the woods, and 

 frequently three or four are seen at a time near the 

 Wigmore road. They are, however, very shy and 

 generally seclude themselves from observation, only 

 decending to the lower pastures near the roads when 

 driven by cold and hunger. Mr. Henry Gray writes: 

 " Some years back I was met by a very old buck that 

 I am sure meant fight ; if I had not ridden straight 

 for him, I believe he would have come at my cob." The 

 number of wild Deer was formerly much larger than at 

 present, as many of them have been shot during the last 

 thirty years. A century ago Ludford was a Deer park, 



