248 Lloyd's natural eiistory. 



Habits. — The general habits of nearly all Deer are so similar 

 that it will be unnecessary to refer to those of the present 

 species in any great detail. The period of changing the coat 

 varies in most parks according to the nature of the season, and 

 it is somewhat remarkable that while the brown variety is 

 darker in summer than in winter, the reverse is the case with 

 the paler spotted race ; some of these showing scarcely any 

 trace in winter of the numerous spots with which they are 

 adorned in the summer-dress. The antlers of the old bucks 

 are shed in May, and the new ones begin to sprout in about 

 ten days afterwards. The fawns are born early in June, and 

 although occasionally there may be twins, Mr. Whitaker refuses 

 to accept the alleged occurrences of triplets. As a rare event, 

 a fawn may be dropped in autumn. As regards food, it is 

 only necessary to mention that Fallow Deer show a special 

 partiality for chestnuts. 



Writing of the habits of Deer in parks, the author last men- 

 tioned observes that these vary according to the season. " From 

 May till October they rest from about 9.30 a.m. until 2 p.m. ; 

 sometimes in the shade, sometimes on the top of a hill, where 

 they catch what little breeze there may be. During the period 

 of rest they get up occasionally to stretch themselves, and after 

 standing up, or scratching their sides and necks with hoof and 

 horn, they lie down again, but always on the other side. They 

 pass their time in chewing the cud and sleeping, and if the day 

 be hot and sunny, will He with all four legs stretched out, ex- 

 posing as much of their bodies to the sun as they can. About 

 2 p.m. they feed, and wander about till 4, when they again lie 

 down for about two hours, starting again about 6 p.m., and 

 continuing until 9 p.m., when they rest until 5 the next morn- 

 ing, feeding from that hour until 9 or 9.30 a.m. In the winter 

 they feed most of the short days, but when well supplied with 

 corn and hay, they rest during the middle of the day. 



I 



