THE ANTELOPE FAMILY 



(Antilocapridcs) 



NTELOPES, while a family which has many important members inAfricaare 

 represented in North America by only one member, the Pronghorn. This 

 unique animal is more nearly akin to the Bovidac, or oxen and sheep, than to 

 its foreign brothers. It differs so widely from the foreign Antelope that 

 scientists in despair have created for it a separate family which it occupies 

 alone and undisturbed. The more important points of difference are : the 

 horn is pronged, or branched, and is rooted very close to and above the eye; 

 the horn, while a true one grown around a bony core, and not an antler, is 

 shed and renewed every year; the pelage consists of very coarse, brittle hairs, 

 those on the rump being erectile like the bristles of a wild boar, and stiffen up 

 at the first sign of danger ; there are no accessory hoofs ; and the marking is 

 strikingly individual. The protective coloration, while generally good, is disturbed by the 

 conspicuous white patch around the tail, which shows most plainly when the animal is in 

 flight. 



PRONGHORNED ANTELOPE 



Antilocapra americana 



Other Names. — Pronghorn, Prongbuck, Antelope. 



General Description. — Form deer-like, The male 

 slightly larger than feinale, standing about 3 feet at 

 shoulder. Both se.xes horned, but female sometimes 

 hornless, and horns of male invariably larger. Horns 

 unique, being flattened, branched, elongate sheaths upon 

 an unbranched bony core. Horns shed annually ; core 

 permanent and situated just above orbit. But two 

 hoofs on each foot, accessory hoofs wanting. Body 

 color tan, with conspicuous white rump patch and two 

 white bands across throat and chest. A thick mane of 

 long hair on neck. Hair everywhere coar.se and 

 brittle. Ears long and pointed. Tail short, densely 

 haired above. Numerous cutaneous scent glands on 

 jaw. rump and legs. Horns and hoofs black. 



Canines, ^^ ; Pre- 



Ord) 



Dental Formula. — Incisors, "^—^ 



3—3 



molars, ^^ ; Molars, ^—^- = S2. 

 i-3 ' 3-3 ^ 



Pelage. — Adults : Sexes similar. Upper parts and 

 sides rich tan. Entire under parts white. A large 

 area on rump, inside of limbs, sides of face, lips and 

 chin, white. Two white crescentic bands on throat, and 

 white areas on inner surfaces and bases of ears. Mane 

 russet tipped with black. Ears lightly edged and 

 tipped with black. A black spot in male only, on side 

 of head at angle of jaw, and a black area from end 

 of nose to between ears. Tail white. Summer pelage 

 diflfers from winter pelage principally in having more 



Young : Paler than 



black markings, mainly on head. 

 adults. 



Measurements. — Length, male, 4 feet ; tail 7 inches ; 

 height at shoulder 3 feet; horns about 11 or 12 inches 

 in length. Weight. 120 pounds. Female smaller. 



Range. — Formerly throughout plains country from 

 53° latitude south to Mexico, from the valley of the 

 Missouri to the Pacific. Now, range is restricted 

 principally to strip extending along Rocky Mountain 

 area. 



Food. — Grass, sage and herbaceous plants. 



Remarks. — The Pronghorn is the sole representative 

 of a family that combines characters of a number of 

 widely separate families. It presents peculiarities of 

 the Giraffes, the Goats, the African Antelopes and the 

 Deer. It has no close relative on any other continent. 

 But two forms of the Pronghorn are found in the 

 United States. 



Rel.\ted Species 



American Pronghorn. — Antilocapra amcricmia 

 americana (Ord.) Typical form. Greater part of the 

 Rocky Mountain and Great Plains area from Mexico 

 to 53° latitude. 



Mexican Pronghorn.— .IntHuca/^ra americana mcxi- 

 cana Alerriam. With black of head replaced by 

 brown. Southern United States along Mexican border. 



The American Pronghorn, known also as the 

 " Prongbuck," " Pronghorned Antelope," or, 

 simply, " Antelope," has the distinction of being 

 the sole representative of a family, this unique 

 position being due to certain characteristics 



[35] 



among which are the following: It is the only 

 animal that has a hollow horn that is branched 

 or bifurcated. While the hollow horns of other 

 animals are persistent, those of the Pronghorn 

 are shed and renewed annually. Hunters had 



