WILD GOATS. 323 



deer park at Gurteen (Count de la Peer's), and 

 they now roam the Commeragh Mountains in great 

 numbers. 



The landed proprietors in that district, to whose 

 plantations they do considerable harm, estimate 

 their numbers at, at least, 500 within a radius of a 

 dozen miles of Clonmell. A dish of deer's kidneys 

 is not an uncommon delicacy in the proper season 

 at the tables of the gentry in the district. 



In 1845 some Fallow-deer were turned out on 

 Deer Island, co. Galway, by Mr. Martin, the son of 

 the famous Colonel Bell Martin, of Ballynahinch, in 

 that county ; but although they have increased and 

 are quite wild, they have sadly degenerated for 

 some years past ; and when I last heard of them, in 

 October, 1881, it was in contemplation to introduce 

 some fresh blood by new importations. The original 

 stock, as I learn from the keeper, W. Blackadder, 

 were brought from the co. Roscommon. 



THE ROE-DEER is unknown in Ireland, nor have 

 any remains of this animal been discovered to prove 

 that it was ever indigenous there. But if any 

 spirited proprietor would be at the pains of import- 

 ing some, there is no reason why they should not 

 thrive there as they do in many parts of Scotland, 

 and in the south of England where, in Dorset- 

 shire, they were reintroduced at the commencement 

 of the present century. 



THE WILD GOAT, although strictly speaking not 

 indigenous to Ireland, may be here alluded to as an 

 animal of some interest to sportsmen and naturalists. 

 They exist about the wild cliffs of Dingle Bay, co. 

 Kerry, and there are some fifty to sixty of these 



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