56 THE ANTELOPE OF AMERICA. 



pated, will prompt it to undertake to reduce this and many other 

 of the wild animals peculiar to this country, to complete domesti- 

 cation, and thus add largely to our useful agricultural products ? 

 We liave an abundance of territory w^ell adapted to this purpose, 

 now laying waste, and a limited appropriation, to be expended 

 under the direction of the Smithsonian Institute, for instance, 

 whose expenditure of the funds committed to its charge has been 

 characterized by the soundest judgment and the highest integrity, 

 might promise success. What would we not give could we re- 

 suscitate some of those animals which were formerly abundant on 

 our continent, but have recently become extinct? The danger, 

 if not the probability is, that our successors in the not distant 

 future will make the same reflection in reference to the bison and 

 the prong buck, if not the moose and the wapiti. 



THE CHASE. 



The chase of the Prong Buck affords an exciting pastime to 

 the sportsman, and has sometimes proved a profitable employ- 

 ment to the liunter. He who would study how to pursue the 

 antelope with success must learn the character of the ground 

 which that animal frequents, his capabilities for escape, and the 

 infirmities which beset him. His strength and his weaknesses 

 must be well understood and considered. 



We have already seen that he inhabits the treeless plains and 

 rolling foot-hills. To call these, naked plains and hills would 

 frequently be a misdescription. Often they are so, covered only 

 with a light coat of bunch or buffalo grass, so tJiat an antelope 

 may be seen at a great distance, although sometimes the color of 

 the country so corresponds with the color of the animal as to 

 make it very difficult to distinguish him even at a moderate dis- 

 tance, though no object may intervene to obstruct the view. A 

 good field-glass is an excellent thing for the antelope hunter 

 always to have by him. But they frequent grounds more or less 

 densely covered with the cacti, the wild sage, and the grease bush. 

 These sometimes attain the height of four or five feet, and afford 

 excellent covert for the animal. 



A correct knowledge of their sense of sight, of smell, and of 

 hearing is necessary for the success of the hunter, for these should 

 often control his course. 



Notwithstanding the large, prominent eye, which is of a bril- 

 liant black color, the sight of the antelope is not reliable. He 

 cannot readily identify unfamiliar objects if they ai'e not in full 



