These animals generally live in herds that consist of females, with their offspring, headed by one male, and they inhabit the wildest and most unfrequented parts of forests, browzing on grass, and on the leaves and buds of trees. They have a penetrating sight, and an exquisite smell, and are always on guard against the approach of danger. Their disposition, when unprovoked, is mild and peaceable; but if attacked, they prove extremely formidable opponents. The females produce their offspring (generally one each) about the end of May, or the beginning of June. 84. _The FALLOW DEER_ (Cervus dama, Fig. 10) _is a considerably smaller animal than the stag, generally of brownish bay colour on the upper parts of the body and whitish beneath, with branched horns, bent backward, compressed and broad at their extremity._ _The males only are horned. The male of the fallow deer is called_ buck, _the female_ doe, _and the young one_ fawn. _Common as these animals are in parks throughout every part of England, they are not found wild in this country. They, however, inhabit various forests of the Continent; even as far as the south of Persia._ There is no species of food in more general request by epicures and _bon-vivans_ than the _venison_ of the fallow deer. This, when properly dressed, is an excellent aliment, and easily assimilated to the human fluids; but when half putrid, as is generally the case, it is considered very detrimental to health. The best season for killing the _bucks_ for venison is from about the first of July to somewhat later than the middle of September; and that for the _does_ is from about the middle of November to the middle of February. The does produce one, sometimes two, and rarely three young ones each, about the beginning of June; these, for the first year, are called by the park-keepers _fawns_, if, during that time, they have no horns; the second year, if the young one be a male, it is called a _pricket_; in the third year, a _sorel_, and in the ensuing year, a _sore_; when he attains his fifth year he has the name of _buck_, and is accounted fit to be killed; but if he be suffered to live a year or two longer, he will improve both in flesh and fatness. If the young one be a female it is called during the first year, a _fawn_, during the second a _teg_, and, after that, it takes its proper name of _doe_. Such does as are intended to be killed in their season are either what have had no fawns in the preceding summer, or have had these killed and taken away. The _horns_ of fallow deer are used for all the same purposes as those of the stag (83); and their hides, under the name of _buck-skin_ and _doe-skin_, have long been celebrated for their softness and pliability; and the manufacturing of them into breeches and gloves affords subsistence to a very numerous and industrious class of people.