ZOOLOGY. 71 



place of abode; found abundantly, and, of game, almost exclusively on those arid and barren 

 plains across which the path of the emigrant passes, it has often happened that the delicious 

 venison of the antelope has been to the wayfarer not only a luxury, but for days and weeks a 

 vital necessity. 



Though found in nearly all parts of the territory of the United States west of the Mississippi, 

 it is probably most numerous in the valley of the San Joaquin, California. There it is found 

 in herds literally of thousands ; and though much reduced in numbers by the war which is 

 incessantly and remorselessly waged upon it, it is still so common that its flesh is cheaper and 

 more abundant in the markets of the Californian cities than that of any other animal. 



In the Sacramento valley they have become rare, and the few still remaining are excessively 

 wild. 



On nearly every day s march, between the valley of the Sacramento and the Columbia, we 

 saw either the antelope itself or its peculiar track in the sand. This track differs so distinctly 

 from that of the deer as to be recognizable at a glance. The point of the hoof is very sharp, 

 while the hinder part of the foot is much expanded, and each half rounded posteriorly, so that 

 the imprint of the entire hoof is elegantly cordate, the track of every species of deer being 

 much narrower. 



The antelope, though perhaps more fleet and timid than the deer, is not equally sagacious, 

 and may sometimes be killed with surprising facility, as a single instance will serve to illus 

 trate : At the southern end of Klamath marsh, near a splendid spring, we remained to give 

 our animals the benefit of the good water and the fine pasturage of clover and bunch grass. 

 We had been traversing a region occupied by great numbers of Indians, who had rendered the 

 game very scarce, and we had been unable to obtain any fresh meat for some time. In these 

 circumstances, Bartee, our guide, to whom a want of venison was intolerable, mounted his mare 

 and started off, vowing that he would not return without deer or antelope. The sun was just 

 setting, and we began to despair of our hoped-for supper of venison, when a shout from our 

 , packers, who were out picketing the mules, attracted our attention, and we soon saw the old 

 man, who seldom hunts in vain, slowly emerging from the forest leading his horse, which was 

 loaded with four antelope. His story was this : He had made a wide circuit without finding 

 game, and while on his return, some five miles from camp, he had discovered through the trees 

 a band of six antelope going to a spring to drink. Knowing they would return the same way, 

 he concealed himself, and, as they approached, shot the leader of the band. The remainder 

 seemed somewhat surprised, stopped, and looked around, but soon resumed their march. Bartee 

 was ready and fired again, killing another. While he remained concealed, they were simply 

 confused by the firing, and did not offer to run away. In this manner he killed five of the six, 

 when, knowing that he had as much venison as his horse could carry, he spared the other, 

 which ran off only when he came up to disembowel those he had killed. 



The flesh of a young and fat antelope is delicious, but that of the older bucks is strong. The 

 head of an antelope baked in the ground is regarded as a great delicacy, but to me it has an 

 earthy taste that is far from pleasant. 



The hair of the antelope is very peculiar, having as a general characteristic a peculiarity 

 noticed in some portions of the hair of the elk, Rocky mountain sheep, and mule deer. It is 

 tubular, and exceedingly light and spongy ; indeed, so unlike the hair of most animals, that 

 we hesitate to call it hair, and instinctively compare it with the quills of the porcupine, from 

 which, however, it differs by an entire want of rigidity and acuteness. 



