RUMINANTIA CAVICORNIA ANT1LOCAPRA AMERICANA. 669 



back, except that there is a narrow crescentic patch of white on the throat, just back of the 

 head, the branches extending high up on the sides; below this is a much narrower and longer 

 patch of white, in the shape of an isosceles triangle, the base anterior. This is sometimes 

 confluent posteriorly, with the continuous white of the lower throat and belly sometimes sepa 

 rated from it. On the back of the neck there is a low, compressed, narrow mane of dusky hairs, 

 with a short indistinct light patch on either side back of the ears. The anterior half of the 

 upper part and sides of the muzzle are of a uniform dark liver brown, in strong contrast with 

 the white of the lips ; there is also a narrow transverse band of the same across the forehead 

 just anterior to the horns. The orbits are dusky. There is a dusky patch on the sides of the 

 head just below the base of the ears, which is wanting in the female. The horns, hoofs, and 

 naked part of the nose are black. 



I am not aware whether the winter specimens of antelopes differ in color or texture of hair 

 from the summer ; the summer skins do not vary appreciably among themselves. The markings 

 are fainter in the female, the dusky patch below the ear being generally entirely wanting. The 

 concavity of the ears is whitish, the edges dusky, the back of the ear yellowish brown. 



The young of the species in general have the same markings as the adults ; the brown of 

 a different shade, however. Even in foetal specimens there are no traces of the light spots of 

 young deer. 1 



The geographical distribution of the American antelope is pretty well indicated by the list of 

 specimens given below. According to Dr. Richardson, it is found as far north as the north 

 branch of the Saskatchewan, in latitude 53. It is spread all over the plains between the 

 Missouri river to the Rocky Mountains, and as far west as the Cascade range of California and 

 Oregon. To the south, it reaches the Rio Grande at its mouth, and probably extends some 

 distance into Mexico, at least throughout the State of Tamaulipas, according to Dr. Berlandier. 



1 The following notice is from Maximilian's Travels : 



Jlntilope americana, Max. Reise, I, 1839, 403. Measurements. Total length from snout to tip of tail, 4 feet, 10 inches and 8 

 lines; tail, lifted up from the rump, 7 inches and 3 lines; head, 11 inches and 4 lines; height, anteriorly, from the outstretched hoo 

 to the withers, 2 feet, 6 inches and 10 lines; height, posteriorly, measured the same way, 3 feet and 1 inch; height of the horn, 

 i n a straight line, 8 inches and 8 lines. I have seen horns which measured 10 inches. The bucks are frequently without the 

 end or the anterior furcate process of the horns, especially in the young, and in the females, where the horns have generally 

 a length of only from one to two inches, and have the points bent back and a little inwards. The horn of a large buck has been 

 considered as a kind of deer (Cervus hamatus) and figured very accurately. 



