FALLOW DEER. 27 



Fallow deer are of two main types. The first, which is rather 

 larger than the second, becomes a light reddish-grey or reddish- 

 brown in summer, spotted more or less brightly with white; the 

 legs and belly being cream-colour or pale buff. There is generally 

 a black line right down the centre of the back from the shoulder 

 to the end of the tail ; the lower side of the tail and the rump under 

 it are white. In late autumn the fur changes in colour, the spots 

 disappear, and the fur on the upper part of the body becomes a 

 dark uniform brown. The buck of this variety stands about 

 36 in. high at the shoulder, sometimes a little more, while the 

 does are somewhat less. 



In Britain there is a smaller type which is entirely without 

 spots, and which is not nearly as handsome as the other. I do not 

 know whether any of this type were introduced into New Zealand. 

 Most probably those brought here came from park herds, and these 

 are often very brightly coloured and spotted. It would be interest- 

 ing to learn what types we have in the country. 



Fallow-deer venison is considered to be better and more juicy 

 than that of the red deer. In my opinion, venison is not equal to 

 mutton ; but one has to bear in mind that when we eat venison we 

 are usually eating the flesh of bucks, or male animals, while we do 

 not eat the flesh of rams. If we did, and compared it with that of 

 deer, we might find cause to reverse our judgment. It is interesting 

 to note in old authors how greatly venison was esteemed, and it was 



mostly fallow-deer venison which is referred to. 



i 



The first introduction of fallow deer into New Zealand was in 

 1864, when the Nelson Acclimatization Society received three from 

 England. All the early records of the Nelson Society are lost, so 

 we do not know what came of this experiment. Perhaps, however, 

 these animals were the originals of an old-established herd which 

 exists in that district. 



In 1867 the Otago Society introduced two deer, in 1869 twelve 

 more, and in 1871 one. All these were liberated on the Blue 

 Mountains, Tapanui, where they have increased to a vast extent, 

 and now form one of the most important herds in the country. 

 Licenses to shoot them have been issued for over twenty-five years. 



In 1871 the Canterbury Society had four fallow deer in their 

 gardens, but there is no record now obtainable as to where they 

 came from, nor definitely as to what was done with them. In later 



