Download Full PDF - 15.78 MB - The Society of Irish Foresters
Download Full PDF - 15.78 MB - The Society of Irish Foresters
Download Full PDF - 15.78 MB - The Society of Irish Foresters
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20JAPANESE DEER.ANTLERS.FRONT VIEWSIDE VIEWTRES TlNE~BROW TINEILLUSTRATION III.during rutting. <strong>The</strong> average height <strong>of</strong> the buck at the withers is from2' 6" to 3' with exceptional stags up to 3' 3". Heads with seven oreight points are not unusual but nine points or more are rare. When onthe run the Japanese Deer may also be distinguished from the Red andFallow deer by reason <strong>of</strong> its hopping or jumping up-and-down motionwhereas the Red or Fallow appears more to canter along with an evenunhurried motion. Good sized stags <strong>of</strong> Japanese deer may weigh up to115 lbs. entire, or 90 lbs. cleaned etc., but the majority <strong>of</strong> animals weighmuch less.<strong>The</strong> habits <strong>of</strong> this animal are similar to those <strong>of</strong> the Red Deer. Ithas adapted itself well to mountain conditions in this country and is agreat frequenter <strong>of</strong> young plantations. Above all the other deer we knowit displays the keenest sense <strong>of</strong> human approach and the greatest cunningin avoiding the marksman or hunter, but as a prize, the venison isregarded as far superior to any o"f the others.ROE DEER or ROE BUCK (Cervus capriolus).Mention <strong>of</strong> this deer must be made here because it has not beenpossible to establish definitely whether or not it still inhabits parts <strong>of</strong> ourcountryside to-day. A description <strong>of</strong> the deer may at least encourageanyone who has seen a similar animal to record the fact, and makeit known.Roe Deer are recorded as having been introduced into the GoreBooth estate at Lissadell, County Sligo, late in the 19th century. This