Plate VI. A male red deer with cattle at Langford, February 1966.
B. D. Eastcott.
Rowney, High and Scales Park woods, and red deer have been recorded from all
those followed by (R).
All the other records of red deer in Essex are either of isolated individuals
or of a pair, mostly stags. The companion of the red deer stag which was shot at
Skreens Wood, Roxwell in 1964, was seen in the area until April 1965; Robert
Eden described the animal as having a heavy mane and antlers with six to eight
points including trez tines. Early in December 1965, the owner of Langford Hall
Farm reported that a red deer stag had been in the Langford area for three to
four weeks. Further reports of the stag were received in January 1966 and Brian
Eastcott saw the animal in a field with a herd of cows in February. The animal
(Plate VI) was extremely tame and allowed people to touch it. The stag was
eventually captured and taken to Stanway Hall zoo near Colchester, just 18 km
to the north-east of Langford. Also in early December 1965, police reported a
'stag' at Meads Grove, Danbury and a gamekeeper reported a stag nearby in
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