There is much truth in the comment published in an early volume of the
Essex Naturalist that "... deer are such adepts at concealing themselves that
but little value can be attached to negative evidence." (Anon., 1900). Fur-
thermore, deer move about the countryside, particularly if disturbed, and a
wood free of deer on one occasion may well contain them a few days later.
Nevertheless, 'negative' records have been collected because they reflect more
accurately the work of observers than do positive records alone. In addition,
they do give some indication of population density; a herd of 30 red deer in a 50
hectare wood is unlikely to be overlooked. Negative records are given on the
map showing the distribution of fallow deer in 1965-1969 (Map 4). These
negative records can be related also to the maps of the distribution of the other
species of deer in the absence of records to the contrary.
Each symbol on the deer distribution maps denotes a one-kilometre square
for which at least one acceptable record has been received. Where a positive
record exists for a wood which is situated in more than one square, then deer
have been considered as having been recorded in all the appropriate squares. In
the appendices, however, in order to avoid repetition, such a record has been
allocated to only one of the relevant squares, usually that which contains the
greatest part of the wood.
Seven species of deer live a wild or feral existence in Britan, namely:
Chinese muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi (Ogilby))
Fallow deer (Dama dama (Linn.))
Red deer (Cervus elaphus (Linn.))
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus (Linn.))
Sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck)
Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis Swinhoe)
Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus (Linn.))
and all but the last two have been found, or have been reported to occur, in
Essex since the Survey began in 1965.
Each of the five species of deer is considered individually. Firstly, the pre-
1965 status of the species is reviewed and, secondly, the records obtained from
January 1965 to December 1976 are summarized. The post-1964 records for
fallow deer have been divided into those for the five year period 1965-1969 and
those obtained after 1969. The great majority of records (and all the negative
ones) were obtained in the former period and provide a compact baseline
against which to compare the distribution of fallow deer in Essex in the future.
To have combined the records would have extended the period to 12 years and
weakened the value of the baseline. The detailed records are given as ap-
pendices in order to preserve them for all time, and so that readers interested in
a particular area may have precise details of when and where deer were
recorded. However, even in the appendices, records have had to be condensed to
some extent in order to avoid repetition and to save space. Where several
records for an area have been received over an extended period, only the limits
of this period have been given. The greater also includes the lesser in that a sight
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