Prongbuck 223 



shedding the antler, but an Antelope's new horn is already well 

 sprouted before the old one is dropped. The outlines shown 

 in Fig. 97 may be considered as diagrammatic expression of 

 the horn development. Actual horns in series like those of 

 the Wapiti (p. 57) are not at hand. 



It is well known that true horn is theoretically a mass 

 of consolidated hairs, but the whole process of hair-growth, 

 the consolidation into horn, and the actual shedding (as with 

 the hair of the coat) are all visibly demonstrated in the horn 

 of this unique animal. 



It seems that the larger and lustier the individual the 

 sooner his weapons are shed. W. R. McFadden, of Denver, 

 tells me that early in the fall of 1894, while shooting on the 

 Elkhead River of Colorado, he fired at a buck Antelope that 

 had unusually large fine horns. It ran some 20 yards and fell 

 dead. On coming up he was disappointed to find that it had 

 for horns only a pair of miserable little spikes. The puzzle 

 was explained when he found both of its other horns, a large 

 pair, lying on the ground where it fell. Evidently it had been 

 at the point of shedding these when shot at. 



The female yearling shows little points of horn. These 

 never exceed 2 or 3 inches in length. 



Horns of the normal type are shown in the first figure in 

 Plate XIV, and the number of variations from this is small. 

 The largest pair that I can find on record'^ (I have not seen 

 them) are in the possession of E. S. Dodge, of Arcadia Ranch, 

 Ariz., who shot the creature near Oracle, Ariz., October 22, 

 1897. These are given as follows: 



INCHES 



Length of left horn around curve lyi 



Length of right horn around curve 17I 



Spread of horns at tip 51 



Spread at widest part ir 



Girth of left horn at base 6\ 



Girth of right horn at base 61 



Girth of horn at largest place . , . . loi 



** Recreation, October, 1898. 



