128 BIRD LIFE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 



Once inside the park fence, we may wander at will 

 amongst the forest giants, gnarled, rugged and hollow, 

 scattered about singly or in groups, knee-deep in fern. 

 In June the fallow does with their newly-dropped 

 fawns lie hidden amongst the fragrant bracken. The 

 only wild fallow-deer in England are in Epping Forest ; 

 these are dark brown, almost black, in colour. 

 Squirrels skip about on trunk and branch, their homes 

 and fortresses. Rabbits scarcely trouble to move out 

 of our path ; the pheasants strolling about under the 

 trees, watch us with a decided air of nonchalance, so 

 well aware are both furred and feathered £hat the aegis 

 of game-preserving is over them. Yet even in this 

 sanctuary they are not entirely exempt from foes. A 

 stoat comes slowly along the path, dragging a small 

 rabbit, probably as heavy as itself. It scampers off, 

 then, as we stand perfectly still, comes racing back 

 to reconnoitre and finally succeeds in carrying off its 

 victim. A fox, which springs out almost under our 

 feet from a sort of lair where he has lain amongst the 

 blue-bells, could account for the fate of more than one 

 sitting pheasant. Yet, though a good stock of 

 pheasants be the chief end and aim of game-preserving, 

 no less necessary is it that the covers, when drawn, 

 should not fail to produce a fox. Here a rabbits' 

 nest, a double handful of soft dried grass and fur, 

 has been pulled out of the short burrow which the doe 

 rabbit makes for her brood. Possibly a badger is the 



