132 ANIMAL LIFE OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



are of opinion that the Fallow Deer is native only in the 

 Mediterranean region of Europe and Asia Minor ; elsewhere it 

 has been introduced by man. 



In addition to the marked difference in the form of the horns 

 in these two species of Deer, there is also a distinction in the 

 development of these ornaments. During its first year the 

 Fallow fawn gives no sign of such a growth, but in its second 

 it produces a pair of short unbranched prongs, which gives the 

 fawn its name of pricket. The next year there is a great 

 advance, for each simple prong is succeeded by a horn that 

 bears two forward tines, and the extremity of the beam is 

 slightly expanded and flattened, and its margin indented. In 

 the fourth year the form is similar but more developed, the flat 

 portion of the beam being much larger and its outer margin 

 more regularly toothed or snagged. The fifth year shows 

 further advance along the same lines, and the animal becomes 

 known as a buck of the first head. In later years the additions 

 are merely an increase in the number of spillers or snags to the 

 flattened beam. 



During the breeding season and throughout the winter 

 Fallow Deer may be encountered in mixed herds of both sexes ; 

 at other times in parties of Bucks or Does. Like the Red 

 Deer it is a great enemy to the forester, and in winter time is 

 not content with browsing on the young shoots of the trees, but 

 utterly kills many by destroying their bark. They also eat 

 acorns, chestnuts and horse-chestnuts. By reason of their 

 feeding more in the lowland woods, where the diet is more 

 liberal, the venison of the Fallow Deer is considered more 

 tender and of finer flavour. 



The Fallow fawns are born in May or June in a close retreat 

 far in among the bracken. Though mostly there is only one 

 at a birth, there are frequently two, and rarely three. The 

 fawn is capable of taking care of itself when only a few hours 

 old. As illustrating this point, we may quote an incident 



