50 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



on Walney, and also on the sandy shores of Cumberland after 

 wild weather, have belonged to the common species. It is quite 

 possible, however, that some of those which have been killed 

 by our fishermen may have belonged to one or other of the rarer 

 species. They are usually converted into oil within a few hours 

 of their capture. 



Order UNGULATA. Fam. GERVIDJS. 



RED DEER. 



Cervus elaphus, L. 



During the Roman occupation the wild Red Deer roamed 

 without let or hindrance over the mountain-tops traversed by 

 the military roads of the foreign legionaries, which doubtless 

 included in the ranks of their fighting men and camp-followers 

 not a few intrepid and eager hunters, men of the vigorous 

 stamp that Horace had in mind when he traced those sparkling 

 lines : 



' Manet sub Jove frigido 

 Venator teneree conjugis immemor, 

 Seu visa est catulis cerva fidelibus, 

 Sen rupit teretes Marsus aper plagas. ' J 



That the strangers not only enjoyed our venison, but con- 

 verted the antlers of the Red Deer into domestic utensils of a 

 rude kind, is rendered certain by the remains which are found 

 from time to time beneath the modern city of Carlisle. 



Of the hunting forays which must have been frequent in Saxon 

 days, no information is apparently forthcoming. 



With the arrival on British soil of that Norman Duke who 

 ' loved the tall deer as if he were their father,' the forests 

 became the object of jealous affection. Doubtless the great 

 nobles were glad to emulate their liege in the rigour with which 

 they sought to enforce their rights. 



Nor were the great religious communities of Lakeland loath to 

 accept the goodly venison which the estates of their benefactors 

 were so well able to furnish. Thus in 1210-12, Aliz de 



1 1 Carm. i. 25-28. 



