Page 394 - Our Vanishing Wild Life

372 OUR VANISHING WILD LIFE
The Red Deer of Europe.—Anyone who has plenty of natural forest food for deer and a good market within fair range, may find the European red deer a desirable species. It is of size smaller, and more easily managed, than the wapiti; and is more easily marketed because of its smaller size. As a species it is hardy and prolific, and of course itsvenisonisasgoodasthatofanyotherdeer. Livespecimensforstock- ing purposes can be purchased of S. A. Stephan, Agent for Carl Hagen- beck, Cincinnati Zoological Gardens, or of Wenz & Mackensen, Yard- ley, Pa., at prices ranging from $60 to $100 each, according to size and age. At present the supply of specimens in this country on hand for sale is very small.
The Fallow Deer.—This species is the most universal park deer of Europe. It seems to be invulnerable to neglect and misuse, for it has persisted through countless generations of breeding in captivity, and the abuse of all nations. In size it is a trifie smaller than our white- tailed deer, with spots in summer, and horns that are widely flattened attheextremitiesinaveryinterestingway. Itisveryhardyandprolific, but of course it can not stand everything that could be put upon it. It needs a dry shed in winter, red clover hay and crushed oats for winter food; and no deer should be kept in mud. As a commercial proposition itisnotsomeatyasthewhite-tail,butitislesstroublesometokeep. The adult males are not such vicious or dangerous fighters as white-tail bucks. Livespecimensareworthfrom$50to$75. TheEssexCounty Park Commissioners (Orange, New Jersey) have had excellent success with this species. In 1906 they purchased twenty-five does and four bucks and placed them in an enclosure of 150 acres, on a wooded moun- tain-side. In1912theyhad150deer,andwereobligedtotakemeasures for a disposal of the surplus. Messrs. Wenz & Mackensen, keep an almost continuous supply of fallow deer on hand for sale.
The Indian Sambar Deer.—I have long advocated the introduction in the southern states, wherever deer can he protected, of this great, hulking, animated venison-factory. While I have not delved deeply into the subject of weight and growth, I feel sure from casual observations of the growth of about twenty-five animals that this species produces more venison during the first two years of its life than any other deer with which I am acquainted. I regard it as the greatest venison-producer of the whole Deer Family; and I know that is a large order. The size of a yearling is almost absurd, it is so great for an animal of tender years. When adult, the species is for its height very large and heavy. As a food-producing animal, located in the southern hill forests and taking care of itself, "there's millions in it!" But it must be kept under fence; for in no southern (or northern) state would any such mass of juicy wild meatlongbepermittedtoroamatlargeunkilled. Throughthisspecies I believe that a million acres of southern timber lands, now useless except for timber growth, could be made very productive in choice venison. The price woiild be,—a good fence, and protection from poachers.
The Indian sambar deer looks like a short-legged big-bodied under- study of our American elk. It breeds well in captivity, and it is of quiet