Prongbuck 233 



I have computed the speed of many other animals by 

 counting their bounds to the minute and then afterward meas- 

 uring those bounds in the snow. On others I have made a 

 number of comparative observations from railways, trains, and 

 motor-cars going at a known speed. Above all, I have always 

 kept in mind the fact, when on record, that such can catch 

 so-and-so, in a fair race. The mineralogists make a scale of 

 hardness, on units, each of which can scratch the one below it, 

 and be scratched by the one above. I have acted on this plan 

 in making my scale of swiftness, only for "scratch" I read 

 "catch." 



In general, I have found that the wild animals are less 

 swift than is commonly supposed, and that their strong point 

 is the quickness with which they can get up speed. Their 

 "muzzle velocity" is indeed a matter of life and death; for 

 most predaceous creatures, especially the cats, give up the 

 chase at once if they fail on the first dash. Furthermore, I 

 have been continually impressed by the smallness of difference 

 in their speed. The few seconds that one animal saves in 

 making its mile is evidently of vital importance. The scale I 

 have attempted is founded on the animal's best rate for a mile. 

 A rate that is representative has been chosen, rather than the 

 phenomenal or the highest record of each species. 



Thus the best horse record for a mile is at the rate of over 

 36 miles an hour. I prefer, however, to set the horse at 34 

 miles an hour, as many horses attain this rate. 



Race-horse Best speed for a mile is at the rate of 34 miles per hour 



Pronghorned Antelope " " " " 32 



Greyhound " " " 3*-' 



Texan Jack-rabbit " " " " 28 



Common Fox " " " " 26 



Northern Coyote " " " " 24 



Jboxhound 22 



American Grey-wolf " " " " 20 



In this connection it is interesting to note that the best 

 speed of a man for 100 yards is 9I seconds, which is at the rate 

 of 21 J miles an hour. A man's best speed for a mile is 4 



