ENGLISH DEER.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 16153, 1 December 1924, Page 8

ENGLISH DEER.

HERDS GO BACK 400 YEARB. There are herds of deer in Great Britain going back well over 400 years, and many have had little or no new biood introduced since their inception. In the 1924 register of the Deer Herd. Book Society of Great Britain a list is given of the ages of herds. It shows that—

Mr George BnideneH's herd at Deene Park, Peterborough, has existed probably 400 years. Lord Clifford of Chudleigh's herd of 300 at Ugbrookc Park have had no new blood introduced since the formation, about 1G72.

Lord Cobham's herd at Hagley Park, Worcester, was certainly extant in 1785, and possibly much earlier.^

Lord Darnley's herd at Cobham Park, Kent, is of "ancient formation."

Sir Roberty Harvey, at Langley Park, has a very mixed herd, the fallow of which have been bred at Langley since it was a royal park where Queen Elizabeth hunted. It includes 27 Swamp, 40 White-Red, 20 Japanese, 6 Indian Hog, and 15 Wapiti. Of Lord Hastings' mixed herd at Melton Constable Park, Norfork, the Red, numbering 150, are of 13th century formation.

Captain Knatchbull has a herd of (150 at Mersham Hatch, Ashford, Kent, which was enclosed by Royal Charter in 1618. Sir Richard Leighton's herd of 100 at Loton Park, Shrewsbury, is probably well over 200 years old, while the herd of Mr B. C. Pearson, at Parham, Pulborough, numbering 200, is said to be a remnant of the original wild deer of the district. Sir John Sheley's herd at Shobrooke Park, Crediton, was probably formed 250 years ago* and Lieutenant-Colonel Winch's at Boughton Moncheisea, Maidstone, 300 years ago.