HIS PLACE. 63 



circular fonn. In tliis condition the game must soon succumb, 

 in consequence of the greater distance be bas to run. 



HIS PLACE. 



Tbe position in natural bistory wbicb sbould b^ assigned our 

 antelope bas already occupied tbe attention of zoologists. If 

 Pallas made it but a species of tbe antelope, later naturalists 

 bave agreed to assign to it a separate classification, and bave 

 adopted tbe name given it by Ord in 1818, Aiitilocapra Ameri- 

 cana, or American Goat-Antelope. Sir Jobn Ricbardson says : 

 " Tbe term Americana is objectionable as a specific name, wbere 

 more tban one species of tbe same genus exists in tbat country." 

 Subsequent investigations bave sbown tbat tbis objection was 

 altogetber witbout foundation, for tbere is but one species of tbe 

 genus. 



A careful study of specimens from every part of its range 

 sbovvs tbat tbere are not even varieties of tbe species. All are as 

 near alike as possible. Tbere is now no pretense for placing 

 Capra Americana witb our animal, for it is well settled tbat it is 

 a true goat. 



Dr. Murie, to wbom we are first indebted for tbe osteological 

 description of tbis animal, seems inclined to go fartber, and assign 

 it " a new or a fourtb section among ruminants. In regard to 

 tbe second premise, its place, judging from tbe totality of struc- 

 ture (excluding tbe brain not examined), it appears to me tbat 

 tbe proposal to rank tbe Cabrit as a family per se (Antilocapridiv) , 

 merits attention. Notwithstanding wbat bas been said of transi- 

 tional forms, tbe present career of biological inquiry bas not yet 

 arrived at tbe stage wben limited divisions can be dispensed 

 witb, altbougb lines of demarcation are broken apace. Provision- 

 ally, therefore, and for aught I can say to tbe contrary, the single 

 genus and species, Antilocapra Americana, may preside as tbe 

 type of a family. Still I am far from tbe opinion tbat it will 

 long remain in solitary grandeur, for I am convinced that its 

 more aberrant features are but bridges, tbe further connecting 

 end of which temporarily hazy to us, from our temporary, cir- 

 cumscribed view." 



I bave already, in another place, quoted a passage fi'om tbis 

 author bearing directly on tbis branch of our subject ; but, as 

 it will be remembered, it is hardly necessary to repeat it here. 

 The comparison be tbere makes between this animal and the 

 sheep, the giraffe, tbe deer, the goat, and tbe antelope, is for 



