110 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 
at the delicacy and artistic beauty of the different objects and the sur- 
prising knowledge of color effects shown in the combinations of the 
feathers. 
Some other notable objects in the collection are spears, shields, bows, 
arrows, blow-guns with their poisoned arrows, fish traps of basketry 
and numerous baskets in varied forms. Among musical instruments 
there are drums, rattles in many forms, pan-pipes and whistles made of 
deer and jaguar bones. A series of curious specimens illustrates the 
method of smoking the native tobacco. A cigar from ten to fifteen 
inches long and about an inch in diameter is made by rolling tobacco 
in a wrapper of bark and is fastened between the prongs of a wooden 
cigar-holder. ‘The holder, which is about two feet long, exactly resem- 
bles a tuning fork in shape, except that the handle is longer and is sharp- 
ened to a point. After lighting the cigar, the Indian sticks the sharp 
end of the holder into the ground and lies at ease in his hammock, 
reaching out from time to time to draw in a whiff of smoke from the 
big cigar. C. W. Meap. 
THE PRONGHORN, OR AMERICAN ANTELOPE. 
a) 2 HE Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana Ord) belongs 
ne ¥ 2, to a family of its own, combining features of the deer 
AN y ; 
a 
tribe with those of the goat and antelope, and is one of 
the most beautiful and interesting of our large game 
~S 
Ry animals. It lives on the open rolling plains of the 
Western States, where at one time it was to be found in 
bands of hundreds or even thousands. No animal on the American 
continent compares with the Pronghorn in speed and keenness of vision, 
but, although very wary, the innate curiosity of the beast often leads to 
its destruction. A waving handkerchief or anything which excites its 
interest will frequently draw it within rifle-shot, and, like the buffalo, 
it has been reduced in numbers until only a few scattered herds remain. 
A peculiar feature of the Pronghorn is its two white rump-patches 
which may be raised or lowered at will and are used as signals, for on a 
bright day the dise gives flashes of light which can be seen at a long 
distance. ‘This odd habit, called “flashing,” is illustrated in the photo- 
graphs and by the young male in the group. Unlike other hoofed ani- 
mals, the horns of the antelope are placed directly above the eye, and 
