188 THE FALLOW DEER. 
thirty upon the back. It is a very enduring animal, as it is able to keep up 
this rate of progress for twelve or more hours together. 
The eyes of the Reindeer are very quick, and his hearing is also acute; 
but his sense of smell is more wonderfully developed than either of the other 
senses. 
WE now come to the Deer which inhabit the warm or temperate regions 
of the world, and which include the greater portion of the family. 
The StTac, or RED DEER is spread over many parts of Europe and Asia, 
and is indigenous to the British Islands, where it still lingers, though in vastly 
reduced numbers. 
In the olden days of chivalry and Robin Hood, the Red Deer were 
plentiful in every forest ; and especially in that sylvan chase which was made 
by the exercise of royal tyranny at the expense of such sorrow and suffering, 
Even in the New Forest itself the Red Deer is seldom seen, and those few 
survivors that still serve as relics of a bygone age are scarcely to be reckoned 
as living in a wild state, and approach nearly to the semi-domesticated con- 
dition of the Fallow Deer. Many of these splendid animals are preserved 
in parks or paddocks, but they no more roam the wide forests in unques- 
tioned freedom. In Scotland, however, the Red Deer are still to be found, 
as can be testified by many a keen hunter of the present day, who has had 
his strength, craft, and coolness thoroughly tested before he could lay low in 
the dust the magnificent animal whose head with its forest of horns now 
graces his residence. 
The great speed of the Stag is proverbial, and needs no mention. It is an 
admirable swimmer, having been known to swim for a distance of six or 
seven miles, and in one instance a Stag landed in the night upon a beach 
which he could not have reached without having swum for a distance of ten 
miles. The gallant beast was discovered by some dogs as he landed, and 
being chased by them immediately after his fatiguing aquatic exploit, was 
overcome by exhaustion, and found dead on the following morning. 
The colour of the Stag varies slightly according to the time of the year. 
In the summer the coat is a warm reddish brown, but in the winter the ruddy 
hue becomes grey. The hind-quarters are paler than the rest of the fur. 
The young Red Deer are born about April, and are remarkable for the 
variegated appearance of their fur, which is mottled with white upon the 
back and sides. As the little creatuies increase in dimensions, the white 
marking gradually fades, and the fur assumes the uniform reddish brown of 
the adult animal. 
THE FALLOW DEER may readily be distinguished from the stag by the 
spotted coat, the smaller size, and the spreading, palmated horns. 
The colour of the Falloy Deer is generally of a reddish brown, spotted 
with white, and with two or three white lines upon the body. There is, 
however, another variety which scarcely exhibits any of the white spots, and 
is of a deep blackish brown. 
It is from the Fallow Deer that the best venison is procured, that of the 
stag being comparatively hard and dry. The skin is well known as fur- 
nishing a valuable leather, and the horns are manufactured into knife-handles 
and other articles of common use. The shavings of the horns are employed 
for the purpose of making ammonia, which has therefore been long popularly 
known under the name of hartshorn. The height of the adult Fallow Deer 
is three feet at the shoulders. It is a docile animal, and can be readily tamed. 
Indeed, it often needs no taming, but becomes quite familiar with strangers 
in a very short time, especially if they should happen to have any fruit, 
bread, or biscuit, and be willing to impart some of their provisions to their 
dappled friends. 
