RED DEER 



upon his noble head a magnificent pair of antlers, which 

 give the animal a majestic setting, but from the fossil 

 remains that have been discovered, it seems that the 

 appendages carried by the beasts remaining to-day are 

 small compared with those of their ancestors of long ago. 

 At the age of seven months the male first comes into 

 possession of its antlers. When eventually the com- 

 plete antlers are borne, these are used by the males for 

 fighting purposes during the rutting season, and it is a 

 mighty conflict to see two stags engaged in combat, 

 and to hear the challenge that is bellowed forth on 

 approach. 



The antlers are shed in Spring, or early Summer, but, 

 curiously enough, are rarely found. The sleek coat is 

 dark reddish-brown in Summer, and greyish-brown in 

 Winter. There is a prominent white patch on the rump, 

 and also a short tail. The female (called a hind) brings 

 forth her one young (called a fawn) during Summer, 

 the period of gestation being about eight months. The 

 food consists of leaves, grass, acorns, chestnuts, beech- 

 mast and other vegetable substances. Needless to add, 

 the seeing and hearing powers of the Red Deer are very 

 acute ; it is wonderfully fleet of foot, and a good 

 swimmer. It will, when hard pressed, even take to 

 the sea rather than be captured. The tail is known in 

 hunting parlance as the " slot," and that of the female 

 may be known because it is narrower than that of the 

 male. 



Fallow Deer. — It is believed that this small species 

 F 81 



