BRITISH DEER 205 



colour. The commonest and handsomest variety has the 

 well-known red-brown coat, spotted with white, in summer, 

 and in winter becomes greyish-brown. The other variety 

 is dark grey-brown all the year round, though in winter it 

 becomes a little paler. The deer of Epping Forest are of 



FALLOW DEER 



this type. It is commonly said to have been introduced by 

 James i. ; but it is known to have existed earlier, and to 

 have dwelt with the spotted variety in Windsor Forest in 

 the fifteenth century. Besides these two main types, varie- 

 ties of colour, including pure white, are not uncommon. The 

 spotted variety is now found in a wild state in many parts of 

 southern Europe and in Asia Minor ; but the origin of the 

 dark variety is unknown, though it probably arose from some 

 local and semi-domesticated breed. 



