i6 



If, as is very likely, the Forest crop of calves, 1876, was half 

 that of 1889, there would be, we calculate, rather above 500 hinds 

 in the Forest in 1876, as against 957 in 1889. This is very 

 probable, and our hind count, Spring of 1879, was 579 ; but some 

 two-year-old stags were possibly included in this count owing to bad 

 spying weather. Again, if the Forest crop of calves in 1876, alive 

 Feb., was about half the present crop, the addition of two-year-old 

 stags going into Forest count of 1878 should be about 67 (20% 

 calves dying, 5% knobbers.) This would prevent any startling 

 change in the number for 1879, and our percentage of deaths in 

 stags was not heavy for the first 3 years (1878, 1879, 1880), 

 perhaps 4 per cent., 1880 list is lost. We think we had 525 stags 

 in the Forest late July, 1878, but we did not count them so far 

 as I can remember. We think, from memory, the count for 1880 

 was about 500, but it is lost. We also think Forest count for 

 1879 was near 5j it i s a ^ so l st> 



The rate of increase in stags reared from 1876 to 1889, inclu- 

 sive, may have probably been something of this kind, but of course 

 less regular. I have put it in to illustrate the principle that 

 governs our calculations the rock on which they are built. 



First Count of 

 Hinds, 

 1878 Stock. 



The estimate of Forest hinds is based upon the count of 1878 

 stock (taken early 1879), and it has been worked out by our death 

 lists of hinds and calves. Hence its irregularity as compared with 

 the stag-calf series above. That series was of course also really 

 irregular, and we have not treated it as regular in our calculations; 

 we have been governed by our lists of dead animals. We think 

 it possible some two-year-old stags were included in the count of 

 " hornless " deer in Spring, 1879, because the weather was very 



