FALLOW DEER. 359 



a native of Spain, of some of the Grecian Islands, and of 

 parts of North Africa. From these regions it has been 

 introduced into Central Euroj)e, and with some artificial 

 protection it supports the cold of winter as far north as 

 the southern provinces of Scandinavia. The date of its 

 introduction into this country is quite uncertain, hut it 

 is mentioned by Fitz-Stephen and other ancient chroniclers, 

 and it seems not improbable that it was first brought over 

 by the Roman colonists. The dark-coloured variety is 

 said to have been introduced from Norway by James I., 

 on account of its superior hardiness of constitution. 



Fallow Deer are gregarious to a great extent, asso- 

 ciating in large herds, the Bucks apart from the Does, 

 except in the pairing season and early winter, when the 

 sexes consort in company. Most persons must be familiar 

 with their boldness and the confident manner in which they 

 will approach mankind, where they are well accustomed 

 to his presence ; importuning the stranger who pic-nics in 

 Greenwich Park for a biscuit or an apple, which is seldom 

 refused. The fondness of the Deer tribe for musical 

 sounds is well illustrated in the following extract from 

 Playford's " Introduction to Music " :— " Travelling 

 some years since, 1 met on the road near Royston a 

 herd of about twenty [Bucks] following a bagpipe and 

 violin, which, while the music played, went Ibrward ; 

 when it ceased, they all stood still : and in this manner 

 they were brought out of Yorkshire to Hampton Court.'' 

 A love of music is not confined to this family ; there 

 is more than poetic truth in the story of the i)ower of 

 Orpheus's lyre over the beasts of the field, and Shak- 

 speare avails himself of this predilection in cattle to form 

 one of his exquisite illustrations. 



Like the other species, the Fallow Deer feeds on herb- 

 age ; it has been noted tiiat it is csi)ecially fond of horse- 



