Morten St George Theory

[Morten St. George]

Why do you think it's a deer?

It has short legs, a slightly poofy body and a long poofy tail. Based on how the other drawings are done throughout the manuscript, I think it's more likely a sheep/ram than a deer. In general the VMS animals are not well-drawn, but it still looks more like a sheep than a deer.

The strange shape above it might be a pelt (pelts were frequently associated with astrological symbols) or a recently butchered animal (sometimes associated with sacrifices). It doesn't necessarily have to be evidence of tanning, it might be related to the subject matter that's on other pages already, especially considering there's a nymph near it that is similar to many of the other nymphs.

Let's have fresh look at our animal:



Take note of ears pointing up and back from behind the head, of a protruding rear end with swirling tail at end, of black coloring on lower legs. Compare with this picture of a swamp deer:

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I think your "long poofy tail" is actually the deer's rear end poorly drawn: the VMS drawing does depict a tail: it's the tiny swirl at the end of the long poofy tail (rear end).

Now let's have a look at some sheep images:

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Note that the ears do not point up and back but outwards to the side, that its poofy tail is not long, that it is fatter than the VMS animal/deer, and that its legs are even shorter in comparison.

Deer is the only parchment animal with ears up and back from behind the head and the only parchment animal that thrives in the swamps like those depicted in the biology section.

Can someone please offer a second opinion on this: Does it look more like a deer or a sheep or something else?

I agree that a  pelt (hide) could be depicted, but on the last page of the manuscript this is far more likely to allude to the source of parchment rather than a source of clothing for the manuscript's author who is depicted just below the deer while displaying a distinct dislike for clothing.