THE ROE DEER 
An interesting observation has been made by Mr. Millais, that the Roe 
of Pleistocene times, whose horns are found from time to time in our forest- 
beds and brick-earth, are, with few exceptions, in no way superior to good 
modern Scottish heads, while the pre-historic remains of the Red Deer show 
how vastly superior these animals must have been, compared with those of 
to-day. 
Good Roe horhs measure about 95 inches. 
This species inhabits the greater part of Europe, ranging as far north as 
Sweden and southwards to Italy and Greece. It is also a native of Asia 
Minor and Northern Asia. Larger forms are found eastwards in Siberia 
and in the mountains of Manchuria. The Roe was formerly abundant 
throughout the greater part of England, where it was reckoned among 
the beasts of chase, but the original stock appears gradually to have 
become extinct, with the exception of a few which lingered in the 
northern counties. 
They have since been introduced into various parts of the country and 
now exist in the New Forest, Dorsetshire, Sussex, Surrey, Epping Forest, 
Cumberland and Northumberland. Roe are not uncommon in the 
neighbourhood of Godalming, Surrey, where they run wild among the 
surrounding woodlands. I have seen them on several occasions and even 
noticed their footprints in my garden. These deer probably strayed at 
some time from Petworth or Virginia Water. 
The Roe has been known from the earliest times in Scotland, and still 
exists there in large numbers in the northern woods and glens. Their chief 
stronghold seems to be in Perthshire, and the country about Forres and 
Beauly, though they are also numerous in many other parts, wherever they 
can find large tracts of timber with thick undergrowth. 
Though the Roe is not indigenous in Ireland some have been introduced 
there. 
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