MAMMALS OF THE REGION 55 



mahogany, syringa, Ceanothus, and other common 

 shrubs, and feed to a great extent on the smaller plants, 

 and probably to some slight extent on grasses. They 

 have no competitors in the range except mule deer, as 

 horses, cattle, and domestic sheep and goats do not 

 penetrate to these steep, rough, upper slopes, and the 

 forage is untouched except by game animals, which at 

 present make little impression upon it. 



The whole summit and eastern slope of the Guada- 

 lupe Mountains from Guadalupe Peak in Texas north 

 to Dog Canyon in New Mexico should be a game 

 refuge. It could easily support at least one thousand 

 bighorns and five thousand mule deer, as the deer range 

 lower and more widely than the sheep. If the game 

 were protected, and their natural enemies were de- 

 stroyed, the range would soon be fully stocked. Under 

 intelligent control and a definite plan for use of the 

 game, either for hunting or stocking other ranges, it 

 should be not only self-supporting but a valuable 

 property. 



The Texas bighorn differs from the Rocky Mountain 

 species in slightly paler colors and heavier dentition, 

 and occupies a lower zone. 



pronghorn; antelope 



Antilocapra americana americana 



Antelopes are still fairly common in places within 

 sight of the cave. On April 30, 1924, O. G. Babcock 

 saw two not far from the road near Loving, a small 

 town just south of Carlsbad, and several small herds 



