THE FALLOW DEER. 



697 



The color of the Stag varies slightly according to the time of year. In the summer 

 the coat is a warm, reddish-brown, but in winter the ruddy hue becomes gray. The hind 

 quarters are paler than the rest of the fur. The young Red Deer are born about April, 

 and are remarkable for the variegated appearance of their fur, which is mottled with white 

 upon the back and sides. As the little creatures increase in dimensions, the white marking 

 gradually fades, and the fur assumes the uniform reddish-brown of the adult animal. For 

 a short time after its birth the young Deer is helpless, and unable to escape even from a 

 human pursuer, but it seems, nevertheless, to be possessed of much curious instinct, and 

 to obey the mandates of its mother with instantaneous readiness. Mr. St. John mentions 

 that he once saw a very young Red Deer, not more than an hour of age, standing by its 

 mother and receiving her caresses. As soon as the watchful parent caught sight of the 

 stranger, she raised her fore-foot and administered a gentle tap to her offspring, which 



FALLOW DEER. Dama vulgaris. 



immediately laid itself flat upon the ground, and crouched closely to the earth, as if endeav- 

 oring to delude the supposed enemy into an idea that it was nothing more than a 

 block of stone. 



The FALLOW DEER may readily be distinguished from the stag, by the spotted coat, 

 the smaller size, and the spreading, palmated horns. 



Whether it is indigenous to this country is an open point, but it is generally believed 

 to be an importation from Southern Europe or Western Asia. It is never found in a truly 

 wild state like the stag, but is largely kept in parks, and adds much to the beauty of the 

 scene. There is hardly a more interesting sight than a herd of these graceful and active 

 creatures, either lying calmly under the shadow of a broad clump of trees, or tripping 

 along the sward under the guidance of their leaders, the old and sober proceeding at their 

 peculiarly elastic trot, and the young fawn exerting all kinds of fantastic gambols by way 



