CHAPTER XXII 



THE UNGULATES continued 



THE PRONGBUCK Family ANTILOCAPRID^E, and 

 THE GIRAFFE Family 



THE prongbuck of North America and the giraffe of Africa differ so much from 

 all other living Ruminants, and likewise from one another, that they are referred by 

 common consent to two distinct families, namely, the Antilocaprida and the Giraf- 

 fidce. Whereas, however, the former is closely allied to the preceding family of the 

 Oxen, the affinities of the latter are rather with the Deer family, to be described in 

 the next chapter. 



THE PRONGBUCK 

 Family ANTILOCAPRID^E 



The prongbuck or prong-horned antelope (Antilocapra americana) much resem- 

 bles an antelope in general appearance, but differs from all members of the family 

 Bovida in that the sheaths of the horns give off a short branch about the middle of 

 their length from their front edge, while the sheaths themselves are periodically 

 shed and afterward replaced by a new growth. 



The prongbuck stands about two feet ten inches in height at the shoulder, and 

 some three inches more at the rump, and is of a light and graceful build, with the 

 head carried very high. The head is of moderate length, with the muzzle hairy ex- 

 cept for a narrow line in the middle of the upper lip, and large and pointed ears. 

 The horns, which are present in both sexes, rise vertically above the eyes; they are 

 much compressed from side to side, and curved slightly backward at the tips, while 

 the anterior process is inclined upward and forward at an angle of about forty-five 

 degrees with the main axis. The bony cores of the horns are dagger shaped, with- 

 out any branching. The tail is extremely short, not exceeding three inches in 

 length, and the feet have small hoofs and no traces of the lateral hoofs so commonly 

 present in the Bovidcz. There is no gland on the face below the eye, neither are* 

 there any tufts of hair on the knees. 



The coloration of the prongbuck is decidedly handsome and striking; the gen- 

 eral hair of the upper parts and outer surfaces of the limbs being chestnut. The 

 hair on the back of the neck, which is of the general chestnut tint, is lengthened 

 into a kind of mane. The face is brownish black; but the summit of the head above 

 the eyes, and likewise the ears, cheeks, and chin are white. White also prevails on 

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