" In parks which are heavily stocked Fallow Deer have to work harder for their food." 



THE FALLOW DEER 



T 



r ' 



HIS graceful little animal 

 adorns a great number of 

 British parks, and is found 

 in a more or less feral 

 state in the New Forest 

 and one or two other 

 places. Although there is 

 no definite information as 

 to whence it came, it is supposed to have 

 been brought from the Mediterranean 

 countries by our Roman conquerors. 

 It is met with in a wild state in South- 

 Eastern Europe. 



In summer the wild Fallow Deer is 

 of a rich yellowish-brown colour, spotted 

 all over with white, but in winter it 

 dons a coat of a much more sombre 

 hue. 



Domestic varieties are subject to a 

 great deal of variation both in regard 

 to general coloration and the distinct- 

 ness of their markings. I have seen 

 individuals almost white, and others of 



such a rich dark brown that at a little 

 distance they appeared to be black. 



The male grows to a height of about 

 three feet at the withers. His antlers, 

 which are palmated in their upper parts, 

 are shed in May and commence to grow 

 again very soon afterwards. 



The fawns are dropped in June, and 

 occasionally two are brought forth at 

 a birth. 



My friend, Mr. J. Whitaker, in his 

 book on " English Deer Parks," says 

 that : " From May till October Fallow 

 Deer rest from about 9.30 a.m. until 

 2 p.m., sometimes in the shade, some- 

 times on the top of a hill, where they 

 can catch what little breeze there may 

 be. During the period of rest they get 

 up occasionally to stretch themselves, 

 and after standing up, or scratching 

 their sides and necks with hoof and 

 horn, they lie down again but always 

 on the other side. They pass their 



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