MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 289 
The American antelope is accredited with unusual intelli- 
gence and is quite readily tamed, but domestication is not per- 
manently successful for even under the most favorable circum- 
stances the contrast to the active and free life of the plains is 
very great and becomes intolerable. Health is impaired and 
the animal soon dies. The reproductive powers are affected 
even sooner than the general health and breeding in confine- 
ment is rarely or never successful. It is interesting to notice 
the fact stated by Caton that the prong-buck seems to consider 
the antelope of Asia as more congenial than native deer with 
which itprobably was familiar in its natural state. The antelope 
is a dainty feeder but avoids the browse which constitutes so 
large a part of the food of deer and woodland ruminants. They 
seem to live almost entirely upon the buffalo grass of their na- 
tive plains, but readily partake of the ordinary cereals in con- 
finement. 
The antelope is assiduously pursued both by Indians and 
white hunters for, though somewhat dry, the flesh is highly 
esteemed and even finds its way in considerable quantities into 
Minneapolis markets. The chase is difficult butis rendered less 
so by the curiosity which is so marked a peculiarity of the 
animal as to be a real weakness. Another point which is 
availed of by the hunter is the entire inability of the antelope 
to spring over high vertical obstacles, and this in spite of 
really marvelous powers in horizontal leaps. It would seem 
that long confinement to the plains has deprived them of their 
natural endowment in this direction. The Indians formerly 
availed themselves of this peculiarity by forming large low 
enclosures of brush-wood into which the antelope were driven, 
much as the caribou is captured in the north, and followed 
until exhausted and slaughtered. The Indians of the present 
day sometimes run them down on horseback, for, although fleet 
of foot, the antelope is said to lack wind. Staking is the usual 
method of hunting as their sight is but moderately discriminat- 
ing. The habitat is limited to the temperate parts of North 
America west of the Mississippi river. Formerly their range 
included all of the territory between the tropics and about fifty- 
four north latitude and from the Mississippi to the coast ex- 
cept in the wooded and mountainous portions. At the present 
time they are restricted to the less accessible and arid regions 
-between the Missouri river and the Mountains and southward. 
Southwestern Minnesota once furnished them congenial past- 
urage, but they have long since retired beyond the Missouri. 
