110 
THE STORY OF THE DEER. 
gradation in color from pure white nearly to black. The hair is compara¬ 
tively short and fine, and there is no mane on the neck and throat. 
The fallow deer is a native of Northern Africa and the countries border¬ 
ing the Mediterranean, and in a wild state is still abundant in Sardinia, 
Spain, and some of the islands of the Grecian Archipelago. From these 
countries it has been introduced into Central Europe, where it flourishes 
well, although needing some protection during the winter in the more north¬ 
erly regions. At what period this introduction took place is, however, quite 
uncertain, although in Britain it was evidently many centuries ago. 
Bell observes that “fallow deer are gregarious to a great extent, associat¬ 
ing in large herds, the bucks apart from the does, except in the pairing- 
season. Most persons must be familiar with their boldness and the con¬ 
fident manner in which they will approach mankind, where they are well 
accustomed to his presence. . . . Like the other species, the fallow 
deer feeds on herbage. It has been noted that it is especially fond of horse- 
chestnuts, which the bucks knock down from the branches with their antlers, 
and this tree is consequently frequently planted in deer-parks. The young 
male exhibits the first signs of his antlers in his second year, when they make 
their appearance as simple snags; the animal being then called a pricket. 
In the fifth year the antlers attain their full development, although some 
additional small points may be added in the following season.” 
It has been stated that the dark variety of the fallow deer was introduced 
from Norway by James the First, on account of its hardy constitution. 
This, however, has been proved to be incorrect. This breed existed in 
Windsor Park as far back as the year 1465. The fallow deer of Windsor 
Park include both the spotted and the brown breeds; but in Epping Forest 
only the latter occur. 
Locally they are referred to as “the old forest breed,” and are compara¬ 
tively small in size, of a uniformly dark brown color, and with very attenu¬ 
ated antlers—peculiarities which have no doubt been brought about by 
continued isolation, without the admixture of any fresh stock for many 
generations. It is remarkable that no individuals of the true fallow color 
(i. e., yellow dun) or spotted with white are ever seen in this forest. This in 
some measure proves the antiquity of the stock, which would otherwise 
show in their progeny a reversion to one or other of these varieties, which 
elsewhere are so common. The keepers assert that not only are there no 
spotted or fallow varieties here, but that they have never observed any 
spotted fawns, the latter being dark like their parents. If this observation 
