constant intermixture among the Carpathian Stags, its alleged sub-species are
either of a kind not recognised by the principles of post-Darwinian zoology, or,
to borrow the classical phrase of Wm. McGillivray, they are “ as shadowy as the
ghosts of Ossian.” ’
Thus we must either recognise a subspecific name for every herd m English
Deer parks, every Scotch Deer forest, and every Scotch island, where Red Deer are
found, as well as the local races of Spain, Corsica, North Africa, &c., or wo must
abolish all such racial distinctions and embrace the whole of the local racc> under
the title of Ctrvus euifikus. Common sense certainly argues in favour of the
latter procedure. It may be pointed out, too, that there is the same variai! in
the shape of the skulls of Highland Stags as occurs among Carpathian and
Circassian Red Dccr. As regards the question of racial distinctions between the
Red Deer of Eastern and Western Europe, the skull is of course the most important
point, and the fact is that in both it is extremely variable. No consistent;
type is constant and a general difference of size is the only marked feature that
is noticeable. -rt size alone means nothing, and is merely an attribute of local
entourage. ' ,r-
The ancestors’ of the Red Deér prob'ably came from some Asiatic centre, %a
moved, westward into Europe by way o f the Bosphorus and Turkey.
Although it is only a recent introauction to this country, the Japanese Deer
Cervus Sica tyfncus has found great favour in the eyes of sportsmen. They do little
damage to cover, are extremely hardy, and will live without any artificial feeding
in the mo:5t inclement parts of the British Islands. A lover of the forests
the Fallow' Deer, the Japanese Deer come out early and late to the edges o;
woods m i they love to dwell, and afford excellent stalking. They dc
interfere wTttv V&hef game, and are an altogether desirable addition to the «®&eds
of Ireland and Scotland, both where other Deer are kept and where the eewers
hold no laxge game. ? • - some years thej/ have been established at Loch Ro«que,
Loch Lute in (Kincardineshire), in Scotland, add the
Duke of Bedford has recently introduced \the Large Manchurian Sika, Cervus Sica
Manchunc us, into Wigtownshire, where ftk 0* forming a Deer forest In J.eland
Japanese 1Deer have been a success for soli«e years at Powerscourt, Colebrooke and
In. England they are generailly kept in parks. I have scon good
herds at I-eonardslee, Vaynol, and Langie;-f. They grow pretty heads of eight and
sometimes ten points, and the venison is excellent.
elaphus, (autumn).