FALLOW DEER—are the species of _Deer_ bred in parks for the production of venison, as well for the private use of the great and opulent, as for sale. The male is called A BUCK; the female, a DOE; the offspring of both, A FAWN; and they vary some degrees in colour, but consist principally of a dark dingy brown, inclining to black, or a mottled sandy dun. The BUCK is furnished with horns, which he sheds yearly: the DOE has no such weapons for self-defence.
The BUCK sheds his horns from the middle of _April_ through the first weeks of _May_, which are in part regenerated by the month of _September_. The DOE generally produces her young in the last week of _May_, or during the two first of _June_. The season for BUCK VENISON commences in _July_, and goes out about Michaelmas; when DOE VENISON comes in, and continues till _January_. The time in which the act of procreation is carried on (called _rutting time_) commences at the latter end of _August_, and continues during the greater part of _September_.
The skins of both buck and doe are manufactured into the article of leather for breeches, so superior to every other kind for the purpose of riding, the produce of the whole kingdom is not equal to the demand, many thousand skins being annually imported from different parts of the world. For the LAWS relating to DEER, see DEER STEALERS.
BUCK HUNTING was formerly a much more frequent sport than at present; and a dwarf kind of stag-hound (called _buck-hounds_) were kept for the purpose. The uncertainty and short duration of the chase, has, however, at length, nearly obliterated the practice, as there is hardly such a thing in the kingdom as _a pack_ kept _solely_ for the purpose of hunting FALLOW DEER.
FALLOW LAND—is land so called when under no immediate cultivation, but ploughed up, and laid at rest, to acquire, from its exposure to the elements, additional strength for the production of future crops. Of these there are both _summer_ and _winter_ fallows; upon the last of which, if dry, HARES may generally be found in the months of _January_, _February_, and _March_, if there are any to be seen in the country.
FALCONER.—A FALCONER, whose province it was to _tame_, _manage_, and look after FALCONS, and other _hawks_, was formerly as great and conspicuous a character as the most celebrated HUNTSMAN of the present day. The influence of fashion, and the changes wrought by time, have, however, so obscured both SPORT and SPORTSMAN in this way, that neither _hawk_, _falcon_, or _falconer_, are to be seen or heard of, unless in the northern parts of the kingdom, where it is also nearly buried in oblivion.