Prongbuck 231 



we can hardly see them, but, instead, observe a gauzy or film- 

 Hke appearance where they should be visible." 



Hornaday says:^^ "In running it has three very distinct 

 gaits. When fleeing from danger it carries its head low like 

 a running sheep, and gallops by long leaps; when showing off 

 it holds its head as high as possible and trots. * * * Oc- 

 casionally it gallops with high head, by stiff-legged leaps like 

 the Mule-deer." 



Why does the Antelope occasionally make these high, but 

 slightly progressive, bounds .? Undoubtedly for the same reason 

 as the Jack-rabbit makes a "spy hop." They are to give it a 

 momentary high outlook whence it can scan the surroundings 

 and look for danger. 



I have gathered many observations on the speed of certain 

 quadrupeds and have arrived at a scale, which, however, I 

 submit with much hesitation. Of course we have no actual 

 gauge on the speed of the wild creatures, and must reach it by 

 various devices and comparisons, eliminating guesses. The 

 estimates of hunters, etc., are always too high; besides, it is 

 a misleading fact that of two animals going at the same rate 

 the smaller always appears to be going the faster. 



It is safe to say that the horse, the ancient standard of 

 speed, still holds its own. There seems no good reason for 

 supposing that any creature on legs — two, three, or four — ever 

 went for any distance faster than a blood race-horse. Salvator's 

 mile in i minute 35I seconds is, the fastest pace reliably re- 

 corded for anything afoot.^* 



On the uplands of Mexico, in 1892 and 1893, I several 

 times saw my hunting comrade, William Allen, on his favourite 

 horse "Spider," ride into a bunch of Antelope going their best 

 and with everything in their favour. "Spider" was locally 

 known as a racer, although only a quarter-blood. 



On the Little Missouri I saw some first-class greyhounds 



^^Am. Nat. Hist., 1904, p. 117. 



'^ My authority is Samuel W. Taylor, Editor of the Rider and Driver, New York; 

 the record is Salvator, 4,110, Monmouth Park, N. J., U. S. A., August 28, 1890. 



