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THE ZOOLOGIST, 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. XL] SEPTEMBER, 1887. [No. J 39. 



ON THE GROWTH OF ANTLERS IN THE RED-DEER 

 AS OBSERVED IN CONFINEMENT. 



By Samuel Carter. 



As you have paid me the compliment of asking me to write 

 down mj experience of keeping Red-deer in a paddock at 

 Kensington, I now do so, although I feel some diffidence in the 

 matter, having so little to relate. 



The early years of my life having heen spent amongst some 

 of the best sportsmen in Norfolk, in what was then the business 

 of my life, I had excellent opportunities for making observations 

 on all kinds of game and animals connected with sport, the study 

 of which has since helped me much in my profession of animal 

 painter. Deer always had a great fascination for me, but as they 

 could not be easily approached, either in parks or in the High- 

 lands, I was unable to do much beyond studying their general 

 appearance and beauty of movement. I therefore determined to 

 keep some as models in connection with my studio. Having 

 fortunately a good old-fashioned garden (one of the few left about 

 here, with stabling, &c.), I was able to arrange my deer-houses 

 and walks, which although limited as regards space, I found quite 

 sufficient for my purpose, and met, I consider, with fair success. 

 I bred eleven young deer, or " calves," as they are termed, in six 

 years, one of the hinds being only in her first season when she 

 came. Having arranged their walk, which was about thirty-eight 

 feet long, with nine-foot pallisading and rough concrete floor, 



ZOOLOGIST. SEPT. 1887. 2 C 



