Mammalia. 



273 



in countless herds over the plains and prairies of almost 

 all of the United States; to-day probably the only wild 

 herd in the country is in the Yellowstone Park, and it 

 numbers hardly more than fifty. There are probably a 

 limited number in British Columbia. Once the mainstay 

 of the Indians, furnishing them with food, clothing, and 

 tents (tepees), they were 

 doomed to give way before 

 an advancing civilization. 



The Antelope. The prong- 

 horn, or antelope of our 

 Western plains, is a peculiar 

 animal, the only member of 

 its family. It stands be- 

 tween the cattle and the 

 deer families. It has hol- 

 low horns, which are shed 

 annually. The bony core is 

 a projection from the skull 

 and is never shed. It is 

 very swift-footed and wary, 

 keen of eye and nose. Like 

 most of our wild ruminants, 

 it has a white rump. When 

 hunted it usually runs to a ridge and stops to watch. 

 Instead of getting out of sight of its pursuer, its policy 

 is to keep its enemy in sight, but at a safe distance. 

 The antelope is rapidly disappearing and is doomed to 

 extermination. 



The Solid-horned Ruminants Deer. The deer family in 

 this country includes three species of deer, and the elk, 

 moose, and caribou. Except in the caribou, only the males 

 have horns. The horns, which are solid, are shed annually, 



FIG. 161. ANTELOPE. 



From Forest and Stream. 



