ITS ANIMALS
63
dense woods of Scotland, they only existed in a wild
state in one district in England—the wooded combes in
the neighbourhood of the Vale of Blackmoor, in Dorset-
shire, whither they were imported about the end of the
18th century. I had in February 1883 the satisfaction of
reintroducing them to Epping Forest. Long convinced of
the suitability of the Forest to their needs, I had at length
the good fortune to secure the co-operation of Mr.
Mansell Pleydell and Mr. C. Hambro, two Dorsetshire
proprietors, in whose woods the roe are common, and
who by every means in their power forwarded the
experiment which I desired to carry out. Its success
was also largely due to Mr. J, E. Harting, who took a
naturalist's interest in the venture, and who not only
superintended the capture, but accompanied them in
their long journey through the night to Loughton. The
capture was effected by long nets stretched across the
wood, the deer being driven towards them by beaters
and secured when entangled in the meshes, and carefully
placed in a covered deer-van. In this way eight were
taken, but two being destined for the Zoological
Gardens, only six, two bucks and four does, were
enlarged in their new home. Owing to the careful
provisions which were made by Mr. Porter, an ex-
perienced deer-catcher, no hitch occurred, and when
the door of the van was opened the next morning in the
thickest part of the Forest, each one bounded out sound
in limb, and after one stare of surprise, made off at
its best pace into the cover. Subsequently I myself
superintended a further capture and placed eight more
in the Forest. They are now, in 1897, believed to
number about twenty-five, but there are others which
have taken up their quarters in coverts belonging to
adjoining owners. They are frequently seen, especially
in the neighbourhood of Monk Wood. The roe are less
gregarious than most other kinds of deer, and, unlike
the red and fallow-deer, which herd together in con-
siderable numbers, they keep in pairs, or at most in
small parties of three or four. They are of a bright
reddish-brown in summer, 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, the late Mr. H. Vigne, had harriers in the
neighbourhood for over sixty years, and none knew the
Forest glades better than he. The pack is now hunted
by Mr. Quare. With this exception they enjoy a quiet
time of it as long as they remain in this sanctuary.
Rabbits have greatly multiplied in recent years. In fact
there are now (1901) too many for the good of the Forest.
They are now therefore in the limited category of
"noxious"' animals which the Conservators try to reduce,
but it takes a good man to do it.
Badger. I understand that one of these animals was killed