MAMMALS. 47 



their antlers. Red deer are injurious to agriculture 

 and forestry. Suitable fencing of fields, gardens, etc., 

 to be protected. 



The Roebuck (Gervus capreolus) measures up to three 

 and a half feet long, and about two feet high. Antlers 

 (Fig. 27) only slightly branched, and rough all over ; 

 beams and branches cylindrical. No brow-tynes, and 

 usually only three branches. Tail extremely small and 

 inconspicuous. Legs long and slender. Summer coat 

 greyish brown, passing over to a reddish tint; the 

 longer winter coat brownish grey. A whitish patch 

 on the rump. The young ("fawns") have at first 

 white spots on a brownish ground. 



Breeding season in August. The female (" doe ") 

 brings forth her two fawns in May or June. The 

 roebuck keeps principally to the lower and middle 

 forests, especially in places where glades, rich in grass 

 and herbage, and cornfields or meadows alternate 

 with woodland. In the evening it comes out of the 

 cover to eat in the fields and meadows; towards 

 morning it withdraws again. The roebuck devours 

 both young corn and corn in the ear ; also ears of 

 miUefc, beans, peas, clover, and lupines. It does not 

 appear to touch potatoes and turnips. The bucks in 

 particular do much mischief by trampling about in 

 cornfields. 



The Fallow Deer (Gervus daona) is about four feet 

 long and three feet high ; antlers rough and cylindrical 

 only towards the root, with tolerably smooth, flat, 

 shovel-like ends. Old individuals are pale brown, the 

 summer coat is reddish and brightly spotted; belly 

 whitish ; a white patch on the tail. The young have 

 sharply marked bright spots. In its habits this non- 

 indigenous species agrees in many respects with the 

 red deer, but changes its abode less. Towards evening 

 it eagerly leaves the forest in order to seek its food 

 in the cornfields. As the fallow deer lives in large 

 herds its trampling does much damage. 



