Missouri Pronehorn 



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of the hairs by which it was attached to the core, eventually became free 

 from the latter and was finally dropt. The old horns appear, at any rate as 

 a rule, to drop off by themselves, otten perhaps owing to some sudden 

 movement on the part of their owner, for prongbuck are not in the habit 

 of rubbino; their heads against tree stems to tree themselves trom these 

 encumbrances after the manner in which a stag cleans the velvet from its 

 ' antlers. 



Although, as already mentioned, prongbuck are possessed of great 

 speed, they can scarcely leap at all, presenting in this respect a striking 

 contrast to the gazelles and most other antelopes approximating to their 

 own size. Their keen scent and sight have been already mentioned. 

 Throughout the winter months they associate in bands or herds, but about 

 March the pregnant does separate themselves from their companions in 

 order to drop their fawns, of which there are usually two at a birth. In 

 the old days it is stated that herds of pronghorn included hundreds or even 

 thousands of individuals. During the pairing-season the bucks fight among 

 themselves ; and the does display great boldness in defending with their 

 hoofs the helpless fawns from the attacks of the coyote and other toes. 



The light bars on the throat of the pronghorn recall the type ot 

 coloration obtaining in the Indian nilgai and the lesser kudu of Africa. As 

 in those antelopes, their object appears to be to counteract the effect of the 

 dark shadow cast by the neck, and thus to aid in making the animal as 

 inconspicuous as possible. 



Much of the country frequented by the pronghorn consists of sage- 

 bush desert, where the pools of water are strongly impregnated with bitter 

 alkali. Nevertheless, the bucks drink the solution with apparent gusto. 



Mr. Selous, in Sport ami 'Iravcl, has the following interesting passage 

 in connection with these ruminants : — 



" They always reminded me," he writes, " of springbucks in South 

 Africa, both by their general colour and appearance, and I should think 



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