American Prong-Horn 



sheltered valleys among the hills and, as spring comes on, the 

 females separate from the rest of the herd and give birth to 

 their kids, usually two in number. These they keep in hiding 

 and watch jealously for a fortnight. At the end of a short 

 time they are strong and reliant on their legs and capable of 

 following their mothers wherever they go. 



The herd now wanders out over the open plains and low 

 rolling foot-hills, where the wide free outlook makes it possible 

 for them to detect danger at an immense distance. When alarmed, 

 they crowd together and dash away like the wind and, being 

 easily the swiftest runners on the continent, are in little danger 

 of being overtaken. Their innate curiosity, however, often gets 

 them into trouble. A handkerchief on the end of a stick, or 

 anything, in fact, that excites their curious interest, will frequently 

 draw them within gunshot, unless they manage to get the 

 wind of their enemy, when, scenting danger, they are off and 

 away. 



During the summer months the old bucks live apart from 

 the females and their families; towards autumn, however, they 

 become more sociable and friendly, and join their mates once 

 more, the herds constantly increasing in size until November. 



In defending their kids the females use their sharp hoofs 

 with savage effectiveness, striking a quick downward blow with 

 their forefeet that might easily disable a wolf that came too close. 

 It is said that they will cut a rattlesnake to pieces before he 

 has a chance to strike. 



Like other distinctively Western animals, the antelope attracted 

 much attention from Audubon on his famous expedition up the 

 Missouri, and all its peculiarities of habit were carefully observed. 

 In his account of the species he says: 



"Observe now a flock of these beautiful animals; they are 

 not afraid of man they pause in their rapid course to gaze on 

 the hunter, and stand with heads erect, their ears as well as 

 eyes directed toward him, and make a loud noise by stamping 

 with their forefeet on the hard earth; but suddenly they become 

 aware that he is no friend of theirs, and away they bound like 

 a flock of frightened sheep but far more swiftly, even the kids 

 running with extraordinary speed by the side of their parents 

 and now they turn around a steep hill and disappear, then per- 



55 



