FALLOW DEER FROM EPPING FOREST
153
Description of the skins and seasonal pattern observed
In order to obtain a degree of standardisation in respect of
colour description the nine preserved skins were examined side
by side in bright sunlight. Pour other skins have been examined
but are not preserved. The skins are described below arranged
according to the month in which they were killed, irrespective of
the year.
445/63. Female killed 21st October 1963. The back is
black with marked sandy coloured spots. The vertebral stripe
and caudal disc (speculum) are black. The ventral surface of the
body is light grey with extensive areas of sandy brown hair. When
seen from a distance the spots are distinct.
451/63. Female killed 28th October 1963. This is a light
coloured Fallow Deer (Pl. 1). The back is a mixture of sandy
coloured and black hairs with light spots. The flanks and rumps
are a light fawn colour. The vertebral stripe is black but the
caudal disc is white. The coat is noticeably thicker than 453/63
and the hairs lie flat. The ventral surface of the body is white.
448/63. Male killed 23rd October 1963. The coat over the
back is quite thick with long hairs, black in colour with a sandy
coloured dapple. The base of the neck and withers are dark
brown and the ventral surface of the body is grey with some sandy
grey patches. The caudal disc is black.
452/63. Male killed 30th October 1963. This is illustrated in
Pls. 2 and 6. The dorsal surface is black with areas of dark brown
hairs. The coat is quite thick and the hairs are long. Dark brown
hairs have their greatest development over the lower neck, withers,
and vertebral stripe. The dapple is not apparent except on close
examination. The ventral surfaces have a buff grey appearance.
The caudal disc is black.
453/63. Female killed 1st November 1963. This is illustrated
in Pl. 3. The back is largely dark brown with black hairs pos-
teriorly. The caudal disc is black and the ventral surface is a
silvery grey. Parts of the coat 'shoot' black depending on the
angle of view. The dapple is visible but is being obscured by the
spread of the winter coat.
46/64. Female killed 28th February 1964. The back is
largely dark brown in colour though the posterior portion, caudal
disc and tail remain black. The hairs are long and the coat thick.
The dapple and vertebral stripe are very faint. The ventral sur-
face is a mushroom grey.
178/63. Female killed 18th April 1963. The hairs of the coat
are thick and long. Over most of the back it is dark brown but
the posterior portion, caudal disc, and tail remain black. The