Damine Group 



evidence is not as full as might be desired, although that region doubtless 

 tonus part of the habitat. Cuvier stated that wild follow deer occur near 

 Tunis, and this was confirmed by Gervais, who said that they are found in 

 Barbarv, Tunis, and Algiers, especially in the forest of Calle. Loche, in 

 1867, stated that he had seen a few specimens from the latter locality ; but 

 M. Lataste, writing in 1885, was unable to obtain any further information 

 with regard to them. 



Since remains of fallow deer appear unknown in the peat of the English 

 fens, it lias been generally believed that the existing form has been intro- 

 duced into the country from abroad ; the introduction being attributed to 

 the Romans. The above-mentioned antlers from Clacton, if really of the 

 age assigned to them, point, however, either to a much earlier introduction, 

 or to the species being indigenous. 



In Jenyns's British Vertebrate Animals it is stated that the dark brown 

 breed was introduced into Britain by King James the First from Sweden 

 (misquoted Norway in Bell's British Quadrupeds), but it has been shown 1 

 that this breed was living in Windsor Park soon after the middle of the 

 fifteenth century, so that its introduction (if introduced it was) must have 

 been at a much earlier date than the one given by Jenyns. 



Habits. — Or the life of the wild fallow deer of the Mediterranean 

 countries there seems to be but little recorded, nearly all the voluminous 

 literature relating to park herds. The fallow deer is everywhere a 

 thoroughly gregarious species, going about in large herds ; and in 

 most British parks these herds while feeding graze in the open. In 

 Epping Forest, however, Mr. J. E. Harting states that " they do not 

 associate in one herd, but roam about in small parties, keeping to the 

 thickest underwood and most unfrequented part of the forest. Consequently 

 they are but seldom seen, and many people doubtless are unaware of their 

 existence." For the greater portion of the year the bucks keep apart from 

 the does, grazing in separate herds, but in early winter, as well as during 

 the pairing-season, the two sexes are found in company. The pairing- 

 season commences in September, by which time the antlers of the bucks 

 are free from the velvet, and the young are born in the following June or 

 July. As a rule, only a single fawn is produced, although twins occasion- 

 ally occur. Mr. Harting was informed that the fawns of the brown breed 



1 Sec Harting, Essex Naturalist, vol. i. p. 52 (1887). 



J 3° 



