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Fallow deer have long roamed through the glades of Epping.
From time immemorial there has existed a herd of what is locally
termed "the old forest breed," characterised by their small size,
uniformly dark brown colour, and attenuated antlers. The keepers
assert that not only are there no spotted or fallow varieties amongst
them, but that they have never observed any spotted fawns, the
latter being dark, like their parents. If this observation be
correct, it is rather remarkable, for it is generally supposed that
the fawns of all fallow deer are spotted at birth, and that, except in
the permanently spotted variety, the spots disappear with age.
The attenuation of the antlers is also very noticeable, the palma-
tion of the horn being reduced from a hand's breadth to about the
width of two fingers. There can be no doubt that, from long
isolation and continued breeding in and in, the herd has considerably
degenerated. So far as I have been able to ascertain, there has been
no importation of fresh blood within the memory of three generations
of keepers. One man had heard his grandfather say that he
remembered, when a boy, two cartloads of deer coming to Epping
from Windsor, but nothing more could be ascertained respecting
them. At present, the number of Fallow deer in Epping Forest is
estimated to be about eighty or a hundred head. They do not
associate in one herd, but roam about in small parties, keeping to
the thickest underwood and most unfrequented parts of the forest.
Consequently they are but seldom seen, and many people doubtless
are unaware of their existence. With sufficient ground over which
to roam, plenty of covert to conceal them, and enough to feed upon,
they do well enough, and, it need hardly be said, form a most
pleasing feature in the forest landscape.
An attempt has recently been made to introduce the Hoe-deer
there, and so far with every prospect of success. The experiment is
an interesting one, and one which naturalists doubtless will regard
with curiosity; for, with the exception of Dorsetshire, where it was
re-introduced about eighty years ago, the Roe-deer is no longer to be
found in a wild state in any part of England. I need not name the
few parks in which a few head of Roe are preserved for ornament, for
in these their liberty is restrained within the limits of their inclo-
sure. In Dorsetshire they are perfectly wild, and roam freely
through the Milton, Whatcombe, and Houghton woods, which fringe
the southern side of the vale of Blackmoor, where at the present
time it is estimated there may be scattered about perhaps one
hundred and fifty head.
It was my good fortune to be able to enlist the sympathy of the
proprietors in the scheme of the conservators of Epping Forest,
and, in reply to my representations on the subject, Mr Mansell
Pleydell, of Whatcombe, and Mr Hambro, of Milton Abbey, with
great liberality, expressed their readiness to supply a few Roe for
Epping, if only they could be caught and transported without injury.
It is comparatively easy to take deer with nets in a park ; but in
this case, the Roe being scattered about in the woods, it was not
quite so simple a matter. The experiment, however was made, and,
as an eye witness of the modus operandi, I may describe how the
capture was effected. Moreover, knowing the interest which is
attached to the history of the introduction of the Roe-deer in Dor-
setshire, it seems desirable for the benefit of posterity that some
record should appear of the attempt which has just been made to
introduce it into the county of Essex.
The first step towards effecting their capture was to secure a
sufficient length of suitable netting and a deer-cart. For this