PREFACE THE following rough notes on a subject which, so far as I know, has never been written on, will, it is hoped, prove of use to owners of deer-forests and deer-parks. As a rule, the herds of deer in parks are too often left to breed at haphazard, and in many parks there are herds of stunted fallo- deer as small as goats and carrying miserable heads. Even where fallow deer are better looked after, it is usual to breed to a standard merely for venison, and so long as a buck is fat, no attention is paid to his colour or head, and a herd usually consists of animals of all colours and shapes. To see, for instance, a herd of fallow deer all dappled and all looking alike, is very rare and this book is intended to assist those who desire to have their deer as well tended and well bred as prize poultry or prize dogs. Feeding is, of course, of the utllost importance, and this should be done systematically all the year round and not deferred till the cold weather sets in, when the deer are frequently too IIIUC weakened to derive any real benefit from artificial feeding. Peas, beans, wurzels, acorns, and hay the latter in racks, to prevent the deer pulling it out and wasting it-the racks being of such height that sheep cannot reach the tray are necessary, as are also lumps of rock-salt and chalk to aid in forming bone and horns. xi Preface By good management the average weight of deer may be greatly increased and I hope the time will come when pedigree deer will be available for interchange between various parks owned by breeders.