XVI. THE ANTELOPES 



The antelopes are the types of grace, speed, and beauty. 

 They find their finest expression in Central Africa, where 

 scores of rare and shapely antelopes make the country a 

 paradise for the hunter. The pronghorn is the only rep- 

 resentative in America, an attractive creature fast disap- 

 pearing before the advance of civilization. This antelope 

 receives its name from the singular prong midway up the 

 curved horn (Fig. 124). We find in it the only instance 

 in which the animals of this class cast their horns, the 

 latter being dropped every October or November. The 

 horns are from eight to ten inches in length. 



The little animal is larger than a sheep, standing about 

 two feet six inches at the withers. Its coat is brownish 

 and white, the buttocks pure white. The eyes are large 

 and expressive, and in the males are placed directly be- 

 neath the base of the horns. The antelope now ranges 

 from the Missouri River to the Pacific, but is being re- 

 stricted year by year, and very few are now to be found 

 in California, though a small band makes its home on the 

 western Mojave. They are very inquisitive, and sports- 

 men approach them by making strange motions, when the 

 little animals will sometimes run directly for them. When 

 chased they often run in a circle and lead horse and rider 

 a most difficult chase. The country frequented by the 

 antelope also abounds in rattlesnakes, which the antelope 



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