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is frequently raised, exposing a white under-
side, and a small white caudal patch This is
not usually noticeable when the tail is down.
Muntjac have small canine tusks, but these are not
easily seen, particularly on wild specimens, as
they are not large or readily visible. Bucks
grow small antlers usually not more than 3 inches
but they grow out of
proportionately much
longer pedicles than in the
other species described.
These pedicles are bony
growths on top of the skull
covered in fur and skin
and can be as long or
longer than the antler.
Muntjac are becoming very
common in some parts of
Essex and appear to be
spreading quite quickly.
Chinese water deer and sika are contained in
some zoos and parks in the county and so the
deer watcher needs to have an idea of their
appearance as escapes could occur.
Sika
At first sight the stags in summer appear to be
a cross between red and fallow. The summer coat
is brown and heavily spotted with a white caudal
patch fringed by black, but without the clear
defining line of the fallow. The tail is also
shorter than in the fallow. The stags' antlers
are similar in shape to the red, but do not
normally have more than 3 or 4 tines each. The
winter coat is a dark grey, with no apparent
spotting and the stags grow a mane. There is