ORDER RUMINANTIA. 85 



winter these parts are wholly brown ; the buttocks are 

 always white, with a black streak on each side ; the tail 

 is longer than in the Stag, reaching to the houghs, black 

 above, and white below. A dark line passes along the 

 back ; the belly, inside of the limbs, and under the throat, 

 white ; the head, neck, and outside of the legs, rufous-gray. 

 Under the eye there is a lachrymal sinus, in other particu- 

 lars there is a close resemblance to the Stag. 



The first year no horns are seen on the Fawn, the second, 

 when it is styled a pricket, the horns are simple dags or pro- 

 cesses ; the third two branches appear, and the palm begins 

 to be visible, but it is the fifth before the animal is allowed 

 by the hunter to be a buck of the first head ; after this time 

 they only augment in volume, and in additional advancers 

 and spillers, or snags on the anterior and posterior parts of 

 the palm. The species is more delicate than the Stag ; they 

 rut later, and their horns drop or mew a fortnight after 

 his ; their voice is low and broken, or what is styled groan- 

 ing; they are more easily tamed and feed with less nicety. 

 In the choice of locality, they prefer elevated countries and 

 hills ; when hunted, they do not flee in a direct line, but in 

 a circle and take to the water, but without venturing to 

 swim broad rivers as the Stag will do ; hence the chase 

 requires more attention to preserve the track. 



The females or Does go with young eight months, and 

 produce one, two, or even three fawns of a light-brown 

 colour, with white spots. Fecundity begins in the Doe 

 from her second year, but the faculty of procreating 

 ends in the fifteenth, and their longevity does not exceed 

 eighteen or nineteen years. They are gregarious, and in 

 parks the herd sometimes divides, and repeated battles en- 

 sue for the possession of a favourite spot. Germany and 

 France contain few Fallow-deer ; in Russia and the north 

 there are none but such as are kept in a semi-domesticated 

 state, as is the case also in England when they are very 

 numerous. 



