FALLOW DEER (Dama vulgaris or Cercus Dama), a species of deer well known in Britain, being eery commonly kept in parks, as it is also in most parts of Europe. It is probably a native of the countries around the Mediterranean, and has been introduced by man into the more northern parts of Europe, where it is, however, now in some places to be found wild in forests. It is doubted whether it has not been introduced by man, at a remote period, from the n. of Africa even into the s. of Europe, in all parts of which it is now at least completely naturalized. How far its geographic range extends eastward, is not very certainly known. It is represented in the sculptures of Nineveh. Its introduction into Britain is ascribed to James VI. of Scotland, who is said to have brought it from Norway when he brought home his queen, Anne of Den mark, and after his accession to the English throne, to have transported it to Enfield and Epping. Thousands of F. D. now exist in some of the English parks. They gen erally receive some attention and supplies of fodder in winter.
In size, the F. D. is smaller than the stag or red deer, from which it also differs in its broad palmated antlers, its longer tail, and its smoother and finer hair. In color, it
is generally yellowish-brown iu summer; darker, or even blackish-brown in winter; more or less spotted. with pale spots, particularly in summer and when young; but in one variety the spots are very marked; in another they are not to be observed even in the young. The buttocks are white, and a dark line passes along the back. White F. D. are sometimes to be seen. The female has no horns. The male is called a BUCK (Fr. claim), the female a DoE (Fr. daime), the young a FAwN (Fr. faon). The name F. D. is derived from its color. See the article FALLOW, in agriculture. When the F. D. and red deer are kept in the same park, the herds seldom mingle, nor do hybrids occur. The F. D. loves the woods. The flesh of the F. D. is one of the most esteemed kinds of venison. The remains of fossil species nearly allied to the F. D. occur in some parts of Europe. The great fossil Irish Elk (q.v.) is allied to it.