Some Notes Mammals 



OF WHICH 



PHOTOGRAPHS APPEAR IN 

 THE FOREGOING PAGES . 



OXLEY GRABHAM,MA.,M.BXXU. 



Red Deer (Cervns elaphtis, Linn). Still running wild in some 

 of the uninhabited districts both in Great Britain and Ireland. Th< >se 

 to be found in enclosed parks are semi-domesticated. In the rutting 

 season the stags are often very savage and dangerous to approach, 

 and people have on several occasions been killed by them. The 

 shedding of the antlers, and the growing of a fresh pair is a most 

 interesting feature in the life-history of deer. 



Fallow Deer (Cervus dama, Linn). These pretty dappled 

 deer are now only to be found in parks in a semi-domesticated state. 

 The fawns are beautiful little things, generally dappled, but some 

 are quite black when born. They are dropped in the summer, 

 amongst thick grass, beds of nettle, bracken, etc., and the hinds, as 

 soon as the fawns can run, watch over their offspring with great 

 c^re. The flesh of the Fallow Deer, which, in common with that of 

 Red Deer, is known as Venison, is indeed most excellent and savoury 

 meat, when the animals have been running on a good rich pasture. 



Common Hare (Lcpus europaus, Pallas) We have two kinds 

 of hares in these islands, the common or brown hare, and the 

 "Blue" or mountain hare, which turns white in winter. The 

 brown hare is far and away the best for fcod. It is still very 

 common in many parts of the country, and is well known to every- 

 body. Young hares are born above ground, and with their eyes 

 open, whilst young rabbits, which are born generally in a burrow in 

 the ground, have their eyes closed. Three and four are the usual 

 nuinoers of voung hares in a litter, but I have known of an instance 

 where eight were found. If obtained quite young they become very 

 tame, and will follow their owner about like a dog. In some parts 

 of the country the hare is known as the " Grass Cat," and also as 

 " Sarah." The average weight of a hare is from 8 to 9 Ibs. 



Rabbit (Lepus cuniculus, Linn). This well-known animal is to 

 be found in almost every suitable locality throughout the kingdom, 

 and in some districts large warrens containing several thousand are 

 maintained. They are known as -< Conies "and "Bunnies," and 

 white, sandy, and black varieties are by no means unfrequently seen. 

 In some districts little colonies of the black ones are to be found. I 

 have on several occasions known the nest placed right on the top of 

 a haystack, and also in an old scarecrow set up in a field. Rabbits 

 are sometimes found with curious malformations of the front teeth, 

 these having grown to a great length, and often in the shape of a 

 half or whole circle. I have shot them myself like this, fat and in 

 perfect condition, but have seen specimens that were nothing but 

 skin and bone, being unable to obtain their proper supply of food 

 when so affected. 



