HABIT. 43 



HABIT. 



The most interesting features of the habits of this animal, will 

 be developed when we come to treat of its domestication. In its 

 wild state it is very timid and shy, avoiding its enemies with as 

 much intelligence as the deer, except that it is more liable to be 

 betrayed into danger by its curiosity. In fleetness, it excels all 

 other quadrupeds of our continent ; but as might be expected 

 from this, it is short-winded and so cannot maintain its wonder- 

 ful speed for a great length of time. 



As has been stated, it seeks treeless plains, ravines, and roUuig 

 foot-hills, avoiding the high mountains and heavily timbered 

 regions, though at times it may be found in park-like countries 

 where ti-ees are sparse. 



They are exceptionally gregarious in their habits. Dr. Can- 

 field says : " From the first of September to the first of March 

 antelopes meet in bands, the bucks, does, and kids all together. 

 At the end of that time the does separate themselves from the 

 band one by one, to drop their kids ; they produce two at a birth. 

 After a little time the does collect together with their young, 

 probably for mutual protection against coyotes ; the old bucks 

 in the mean time go off alone, each hj himself or at most two 

 together, leaving the young bucks and young does together in 

 small bands. 



" The old bucks now for a month or two wander a great deal, 

 and are seen in the timber-lands, and in other places where the^^ 

 never go at any other season of the year, evidentl}^ 'tired of the 

 world ' and fleeing from society. After two or three months, 

 the young bucks and does join the old does and their kids, and 

 finally by the first of September, all are together once more in 

 bands of hundreds or thousands. Any particular band of ante- 

 lopes does not leave the locality where they grow up, and never 

 range more than a few miles in different directions." 



The conduct of Mr. Cipperly's tame antelope, which I men- 

 tion in another place as the only instance of which I have heard 

 of their breeding in domestication, shows that the habit of the 

 sexes separating during the latter part of the period of gestation, 

 is quite as much attributable to the inclinai;ion of the male as of 

 the female. I quote from a letter to me by Hon. L. B. Crooker, 

 who kindly investigated their habits for me, which shows this, as 

 well as illustrates several other characteristics : " In the spring, 

 while the female was with young, the male seemed to lose his 



