ITS ANIMALS. 77
in limb, and, after one stare of surprise, made off at its
best pace into the cover. They have since been fre-
quently seen, and though some have occasionally wan-
dered beyond the limit of the Forest, they are hospitably
entertained by the neighbouring proprietors. Some of
the does at any rate, on July 4, 1884, had fawns at
their sides. The roe are less gregarious than most
other kinds of deer, and, unlike the red and fallow-
deer, which herd together in considerable numbers,
they keep in pairs, or at most in small parties of three
or four. They are of a bright reddish-brown in sum-
mer, changing to a dull gray in autumn. About a
third of the size of the fallow-deer, their horns are not
palmated and smooth as are those of that animal, but
are branched and pointed like those of the red-deer,
only on a smaller scale.
Hares are found throughout the northern part of the Forest
in moderate numbers. That well-known master of
hounds, Mr. H. Vigne, who has kept harriers in the
neighbourhood for fifty-five years, occasionally hunts
them. With this exception they enjoy a quiet time of
it as long as they remain in this sanctuary.
Rabbits are in no great numbers, but enjoy a wide range,
as may be observed whenever snow lies on the ground.
Badger. I understand that one of these animals was killed
on the Hill Hall estate twenty years ago, and another
more recently. Owing to their nocturnal habits, it is
difficult to say whether they are now extinct or not, but
I believe that the conditions which now prevail in the
Forest are favourable to their existence, and I hope to
settle the question by introducing some more before long.
The Fox, the largest of our Forest beasts of prey, is welcome
here to such pheasants and rabbits as he can catch. He
does not often show himself, and the hounds do not
trouble him more than once or twice in the season, nor
does he yield them many trophies. They are often found
sleeping in the daytime in the crown of some oak pol-
lard. Several litters of cubs are annually produced in
the deep earths near Monk Wood.
The Polecat was not uncommon in this district twenty years
ago. As he preys on all other animals which he can
catch, whether fur or feather, the gamekeeper preys
upon him. He is consequently now rare if not extinct.
As there is no game preservation, in the ordinary sense,
in Epping Forest, but both the game and their natural
enemies are equally welcomed, I hope that the polecat
will return and multiply.