BRITISH MAMMALS 



was introduced into Britain by the Romans, and it is not, 

 therefore, indigenous to our country. It has, however, 

 become established in our mammalian fauna, and may 

 still be found in a wild condition in Epping and the 

 New Forests. Herds also exist in several English parks. 



There appear to be two distinct races, one Hght and 

 the other dark. The brown coat is spotted with white, 

 and this adds greatly to the animal's attractiveness. It 

 has palmate antlers, and a longer tail than its majestic 

 relative last described. It attains a height of three feet 

 at the withers, thus exceeding the next species on our 

 list by some twelve inches. 



One or two young are born during June. 



Roe Deer. — ^W^h this species the male is always 



referred to as the buck and the female as the doe, and it 



is interesting to observe that some place-names evidently 



have reference to this animal in days gone by. Thus, 



in our own district of Hertfordshire we have Roe Green, 



Roe Wood and Roestock, whilst at least one of our human 



acquaintances bears the name of Roebuck ! Curiously 



enough, although the fore part of the name (Roe) has 



thus become preserved, the animal itself is little known, 



and only those fortunate individuals who have visited 



Scotland and Northern England, to find its own chosen 



habitat, have any acquaintance with it. Occasionally, 



this Deer may be sighted away from its forest retreat, 



but it is a red-letter day when thus seen. It is a lover 



of a wide expanse of forest where it can roam unhindered, 



passing most of its time in solitude amidst the murmur 

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