—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.

FALSE QUARTER

—is a defect in the hoof of a horse, originally sustained by some injury, producing a destruction of parts; as quittor, canker, wounds, treads, bruises, or such formation of matter, by which a part of the hoof has been unavoidably destroyed, or necessarily taken away. In the regeneration of parts, the incarnation (from the rigid and horny nature of the hoof) is irregular and imperfect, forming a sort of cleft (or artificial union) with the sound part upon the surface, productive of a sensible weakness underneath. This imperfect and defective junction renders such quarter, as is it called, inadequate to the weight it is destined to bear; in which case, much judgment is required, and may be exerted, in the palliation, as perfect cure is not to be expected. Care must be taken in forming the shoe to relieve the tender part from pressure, by hollowing it at that particular spot, and letting the bearing be fixed entirely upon the sound parts. By constant attention in reducing the prominent edges of the irregular projection with the fine side of the RASP, and a few occasional impregnations with fine spermacæti oil, the hoof may be sometimes restored to its original formation.