20 



Strange 

 fecundity of 

 heather. 



year. We are now 181 hinds below the nominal limit allowed to 

 be shot by the lease. 



Many people believe that stags spring up out of the heather, 

 without the intervention of mothers a delightful conception, 

 entertained and acted upon by most deer-fanciers, owners and 

 tenants. 



The most important feature in a satisfactory Forest is the 

 possession of a full complement of hinds. We believe that at 

 last Jura Forest has attained this essential part of complete 

 success, hence hind shooting will now begin. Sixteen years of 

 such moderation as may be called abstension has been needed to 

 effect this result. The Forest now contains about 1000 hinds 

 (i year old and above). If 1000 is the right standard number, 

 about 90 hinds will require to be shot in 1891 to keep that 

 standard. The flower of the flock ought not to be selected for 

 slaughter. This is a very serious question, and one that must be 

 faced, else an insidious decay of the deer will set in, from over- 

 stocking the ground. 



Largy was dealt with to some extent in 1889. We propose 

 doing so again in 1890, consequently the probable number of 

 hinds to be shot in 1891 may prove about 75. 



We intend to test our estimates by a count of the Forest, 

 Feb., 1891. 



The numbers doubtless are rather larger than those given in 

 this table. We cannot possibly count all the hinds. The rate of 

 hinds' deaths is likely to be somewhat less than 5 per cent. 



