The growth and spermatogenic activity of the testes and epididymides offallow deer of determined age were studied through the year in a cross section of British herds. Full spermatogenic activity for all populations was first found at 16 months of age though overall growth of the testes continued into middle age. The physiological ability to effect fertile matings is, however, mediated by social forces. Until puberty, growth of the testes is continuous and independent of seasonal factors. Development of the epididymides parallels that of the testes. After puberty, there is a seasonal cycle of growth and regression of the testes and epididymides with maximum weights associated with the mating period (rut) in October/November. The fallow deer is shown to follow the pattern of other northern temperate deer and to differ in its pattern of spermatogenic activity from tropical deer, such as muntjac, living in Britain.
The eruption and wear of the cheek teeth of male Fallow deer from a park and wild population has been studied for age determination purposes. It was found possible to age accurately up to 48 months animals whose date of death was known, whether they were from a wild or park population. It was found that up to at least this age individual and environmental differences affecting animals born in successive years did not mask those resulting fromthe restricted seasonal breeding of this species.
Antler development and body weight were studied in relation to the ages obtained and were found to be of limited value for age estimation.
With 4 figures in the text)The reproductive organs of wild and park female Fallow deer have been examined. The deer appear to breed for the first time in their second year when they are about 16 months old; none of the fawns examined was pregnant. All the adult deer had ovulated and about 95% were pregnant. It is concluded that most adult Fallow deer breed each year. The only difference found between wild and park deer was in the incidence of transmigration of the ovum; this being 52% and 28% respectively.
During the process of archaeological excavation, both in thiscountry and abroad, many thousands of animal bones are discovered in the course of a single year. Much of this material is buried again without examination by those best qualified to do this; and that which is retained is all too often devoid of the data of association which make it valuable to the animal historian, the zoologist and other researchers.
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