THE FALLOW DEER. 127 



season is over. But as long as it lasts the flesli of the 

 fallow buck can hardly be eaten, so strong is the flavour 

 which during these few weeks is imparted to it. WTiile 

 alive, too, the animal has now a goat-like smell. Indeed, 

 in more respects than one, the two animals resemble 

 each other. Their bleat is similar, and in the appen- 

 dage of the tail and its continual whisking there is also 

 a likeness. Instead of moving over the ground with a 

 light stately motion like the red-deer, they advance by 

 a succession of short ugly jumps in the air, like the 

 frisking of a kid. But notwitstanding these deformities 

 a fallow deer is an extremely pretty animal ; and its 

 sleek dappled body, and sma,ll head, and watchful look 

 always make it a pleasing sight. To see a brace of 

 good bucks at rest under the shadowy branches of a vene- 

 rable oak is, I think, a delightful picture, and has for 

 me a quite peculiar charm. In summer time, when 

 the flies are troublesome, a deer will sometimes seek a 

 cool spot under a shady bank or green knoll, and, half 

 buried in the high grass and tall flowers, sit there in idle 

 indolence a whole afternoon. I have frequently stolen 

 upon such dolce farniente, and from behind the stem of 

 a neighbouring tree watched the gentle creature enjopng 

 the quiet and the coolness. The delicate ears were in 

 constant motion : now a long-stemmed flower would bend 

 and rock in the breeze, or sink down with the weight of 

 some clambering beetle above the animal's head or body, 



