BRITISH MAMMALS 



even before King James I. brought into Scotland the dark race of 

 this Deer. 



The Fallow Deer appears to be a native in most of the countries 

 bordering the Mediterranean, including the island of Sardinia, and has 

 been introduced as a park animal into many other parts of Europe. It 

 also occurs in Western Asia and until recently in North Africa. 



When or by w^hom the species was first introduced to the British 

 Islands remains a mystery, but it was probably imported by the 

 Romans during their occupation of the country or by some early 

 traders. 



It was certainly plentiful soon after the Norman Conquest, as we 

 know by the writings of the chroniclers. 



Chiefly for sporting purposes, herds of Fallow and Red Deer were 

 in early times kept in parks, where they were either hunted with hounds 

 or driven by beaters near enough to the sportsmen of those days to be 

 shot with the bow and arrow. This appears to have been a favourite 

 amusement of Queen Elizabeth and other sovereigns. 



Now the park Fallow Deer is usually kept as an ornament, but a 

 remnant of the old stock still inhabit the New Forest and other ancient 

 hunting grounds. 



As we see them in parks. Fallow Deer generally associate in herds, and 

 like the Red Deer, the sexes keep apart during a great part of the year. 

 According to Millais, the bucks shed their horns in May and have them 

 renewed and free from velvet in August. 



The rutting season begins in October, when the grunting notes of the 

 male are heard and combats take place for possession of the does. Fatal 

 wounds are seldom received in these encounters, as the thrust of a Fallow 

 buck's horn is less deadly than that of the Red Stag, though 1 have seen a 

 buck which had recently lost his eye. 



44 



