526 



THE CLOVEN-HOOFED ANIMALS. 



Range and History The Fallow Deer affects temperate 

 of the Fallow climes more than cold ones and 

 '^^^''- therefore has always been frequent 



along the Mediterranean. Its range extends south- 

 ward to the northern margin of the Sahara, north- 

 ward to the southern portions of Sweden and Nor- 

 way. It is probably most plentiful in England, 

 where it is bred in great numbers in the parks of the 

 large land-owners. It especially delights in a rolling 

 country where gentle slopes alternate with low hills, 

 groves, underbrush and forest trees and where the 

 soil is grown with short grass. It seems created for 

 parks and one can hardly imagine a better ornament 

 for large pleasure-groXinds than the Fallow Deer. 



Physical Pecul- The Fallow Deer {Dama vulgaris) is 

 iarities oftheFal- greatly the inferior of its noble kins- 

 low Deer, man, the Stag, in size. Inclusive of 

 the tail, which is from six to eight inches long, it 

 measures about five feet four inches in length; its 

 height at the shoulders varies between thirty- four 

 and thirty-six inches and the height at the croup be- 

 tween thirty-six and thirty-eight inches; its weight 

 probably seldom exceeds from two hundred to two 

 hundred and forty pounds. The doe is smaller. 

 But few of the other Deer show such modifications 

 in color as the Fallow Deer, according to the season 

 and its age. In summer the upper surface, the 

 thighs and the tip of the tail are reddish brown, the 

 under parts and inner sides of the legs being white; 

 blackish rings surround the mouth and the eyes; the 

 hair of the back is whitish at the base, reddish brown 

 in the middle and black at the tip. In winter the 

 head, neck and ears are brownish gray, the back and 

 sides blackish,"^ the lower surface ashy gray, some- 

 times tinged with red. White individuals are not 

 very uncommon. They do not change their color at 

 any season and are distinguished in winter only by 

 the greater length of their hair. Some Deer also 

 have a yellowish coat in youth; black specimens are 

 rarer. 



Habits and Omental The Fallow Deer is less shy and 

 Attributes of Fal- cautious than the Stag, neither can 

 low Deer. it by its sense of smell detect the 



presence of Man at so great a distance, but only for 

 about three hundred paces. It often roams about in 

 clear spots in the woods in bright daylight, but does 

 not undertake its journeys so regularly or for so 

 great a distance as its relative. It is inferior to the 

 Stag in fleetness, leaping power and agility; it lifts 

 its legs higher in trotting and jumps in bounds, after 

 the manner of Goats, clearing the ground simulta- 

 neously with all four feet. If not engaged in full 

 flight the tail is lifted when running. It can clear 

 obstacles of over six feet in height, swims fairly 

 well, but never wallows like the Stag. The food of , 

 both Deer is the same; but the Fallow Deer does 

 more stripping of bark and thereby renders itself a 

 nuisance. It is a surprising fact that this Deer 

 sometimes eats poisonous plants, which cause its 

 death. 



Reproduction and The doe gives birth to one or, more 

 Development of the rarely, two fawns, generally in June. 

 Fallow Deer. The little one is very helpless in the 

 first days of its life and receives from its mother 

 careful protection and shelter. Smaller predaceous 

 animals that may exhibit intentions inimical to the 

 bright colored little fawn are driven off by the 

 mother by striking them with her fore-legs; larger 

 and more dangerous beasts she decoys away from 

 the place where her infant rests by walking slowly 

 away, inducing the beast of prey to follow her as 



an intended victim; when she has accomplished this 

 object, she completes the stratagem by fleeing rap- 

 idly from the presence of the enemy and returning 

 to the spot where the young one lies, after innumer- 

 able detours and doubles. When the fawn is six 

 months old an elevation can be noticed on the bony 

 projections of the frontal ridge of the skull in the 

 male, out of which the horns sprout by the end of 

 February and go on developing till August, when 

 they are shed. It is not until the fifth year that the 

 blades of the antlers begin to develop, and they 

 increase with time in size and in the number of mar- 

 ginal spurs. The old Deer shed their horns in May, 

 the young ones in June, usually not both antlers 

 simultaneously, but with an interval of two or three 

 days between the periods of denudation. The new 

 antlers are developed- by August or September. 

 The Fallow Deer The Fallow Deer is either "stalked" 

 as a Game and shot with a rifle, or . hunted with 

 Animal. a great number of hounds; some- 

 times Men are employed as beaters to rouse the 

 game. Success generally rewards one who has pa- 

 tience to lie in wait for it, as it invariably passes 

 along its regular "runs," as its paths are technically 

 called. The skin is valued more than that of Red 

 Deer on account of its softness and pliability. The 

 venison is very savory, especially when the animal is 

 killed during the season, from July to the middle of 

 September, the Deer accumulating much fat during 

 that period. 



This Deer is better adapted for parks than any 

 other species; it readily becomes familiar with man- 

 kind, frequents spots cleared of trees in the day, 

 thus allowing itself to be seen, and is of a playful 

 or even mischievous disposition. In one respect 

 it can also be considered a weather prophet: when 

 it is especially restless and capricious, unpleasant 

 or stormy weather may be looked for with a con- 

 siderable degree of confidence. The Fallow Deer 

 preserve their cheerful temper in closer confinement 

 also, easily becoming accustomed to it. They seem 

 to be especially fond of music; even: those in the 

 free state approach to listen when they hear the 

 sounds of a bugle. 



THE RED DEER. 



Among the Deer in the narrowest sense, are the 

 Red Deer (Cervus) which belong to both northern 

 belts; the males alone have antlers, with rounjd 

 branches. Of the more or less numefous spurs, at 

 least three are directed forward. The outer face of 

 the hinder ankles are furnished with, hair tufts. The 

 tear-pits are distinct. In old males, and more rarely 

 with very old females, the canines in the upper jaw 

 protrude far beyond the others. 



Description of One of the stateliest and noblest 

 theStag or Red forms of this sub-genus is the Stag 

 ^ Deer. or Red Tieer {Cervus elapkiiS).. Not- 



withstanding- its slenderness it is of vigorous and 

 handsome organization, and its bearing is, noble and 

 proud. Its physical . proportions vary considerably, 

 according to the country in which it is indigenous. 

 It attains a total length of from six feet two inches 

 to seven feet two inches, some six inches of this 

 being included in the tail. The height at, the 

 shoulders, varies between four and five feet and, the 

 weight between three hundred and twenty and five 

 hundred and forty pounds; but there. also occur un- 

 commonly large specimens, which may weigh six 

 hundred pounds and upwards The female is consid- 

 erably smaller and is differently colored. In respect 



