THE ROE DEER 
CAPREOLUS CAPR^A 
ITS NATURAL HISTORY 
T he common Roe is distributed in suitable localities over the 
greater part of temperate Europe, being found in Spain, France, 
the British Islands (recently introduced to Ireland), South 
Sweden, Germany, Austria, the Balkan States, Albania, Tus- 
cany, Greece, Turkey, North Palestine, Asia Minor and the 
Southern and Central Caucasus. In the Northern Caucasus the 
ranges of the European form, and another, which seems to be more or 
less similar to the Siberian Roe, overlaps; for both species have recently 
been found there, and it is quite possible that the two interbreed there, 
as they will do so in confinement. Further east the common Roe is found 
as far as Turkestan; the larger form taking its place when the moun- 
tain barrier between Russia and China is reached. In the mountains of 
Manchuria, and in China itself, another race {Capreolus manchuricus) is 
found. It is practically identical with our Roe, except that it is said to 
possess a red winter coat.* 
In England the Roe was formerly distributed over a wide area, and 
locally must have been extremely abundant in Pleistocene Times. Nearly 
a hundred heads have been found in one spot, in the brick-earths of the 
Thames Valley. It is interesting to note that whilst the British Red deer 
has deteriorated until it is scarcely the same animal in our islands, the 
Roe has undergone no change after centuries of isolation. On the other 
hand, there is a slight tendency to improvement, for no British Pleistocene 
horns of this animal have been discovered that are equal in size and weight 
to recent Scottish examples. 
Roe are said to have lingered in Wales until the time of Queen Elizabeth. 
Their remains have been found from the sands of Caithness, to the 
caverns of Devonshire. They are especially numerous in the Norfolk Forest 
bed, the Thames Valley, and the Cambridge Fens; in fact, if proper search 
were made, every large peat deposit would yield traces of this animal. 
In the early English chronicles we find references to the roebuck as a 
beast of the chase. The Saxon hunter, speaking in the “ Colloquy of 
Alfric,” describes his methods of taking “harts, boars, deer and roes.” 
* This is incorrect. I have a head from W. Kansu in winter coat which is similar to our Roe. 
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