ROE- DEER (Capreolus caprea] 



ROE-DEER do not thrive well in parks. There are two varieties at 

 least, namely, the ordinary red-coloured roe and the black German 

 roe, which is entirely black without any white rump-patch. The giant 

 Siberian roe is a distinct species, which unfortunately will not live 

 in the English climate, and which I find impossible to rear here, 

 while I hear that they are not a success in Germany. 



In Scotland a few Siberian roe-bucks turned out might perhaps 

 improve the heads of the native breed, but in this case, as in all 

 others where a stag or buck is turned out, it is most important that 

 this should be done at the season when the horns have been shed 

 and the new ones are only just sprouting, otherwise the new-comers 

 will be set upon and killed by the native bucks. If, however, 

 the new-comers are given an opportunity of mingling with the others 

 while their horns are soft they stand a much better chance of holding 

 their own during the rutting-season. It is also advisable to kill off 

 all the old and big bucks of the native stock before turning out 

 foreigners, so that the latter may be the biggest males on the 

 ground, and therefore capable of defeating the others. 



In Scotland roe-deer are considered of little account, and are often 

 bagged with the shot-gun in covert-shooting, nothing being thought 

 of the heads. On the Continent, however, and especially in Germany, 

 Austria, and Hungary, a good roe-head is almost as much prized as 

 a good stag's head, and there are prizes given for roe-heads at all the 



Sportsmen's Exhibitions. 



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