TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. 245 



scattering flocks together in countless thousands. In the big 

 bend of the Yellowstone in 1877, 1878 and 1879, I have seen 

 hundreds of thousands in one band. When they ran togeth- 

 er, their white tails and buttocks looked like the water in a 

 lake, when the wind is driving it into waves. 



The antelope has a wonderfully keen scent, and can hear 

 a horse's approach miles away. They sometimes detect a 

 hunting party six or eight miles off. It takes the greatest 

 of precaution to approach an antelope, for it is all ears and 

 eyes and legs. They seem to fear man less than they do the 

 wild animals. On one occasion, six antelopes which had 

 been pursued by wolves until they were exhausted and fright- 

 ened almost to death, ran before my team not more than 

 fifty yards away for many miles, until the wolves abandoned 

 the chase. I could easily have shot them all, but their ap- 

 peal to me to save them from the sharp fangs of the wolves, 

 in addition to the entreaty of my wife, who was with me, 

 saved them. 



There is something about a band of large gray wolves 

 which paralyzes some animals. We once had a four- year-old 

 horse killed and eaten by these cannibals of the plains. 



Antelopes have often been fenced in by accident on the 

 ranges,, when property owners were enclosing large tracts. 

 At the present time I know of several bands thus incarcer- 

 ated. Hon. Paul McCormick, of Billings, Montana, has a 

 band of thirty, which has increased from twelve thus con- 

 fined. They have no disposition to leave the enclosure, as 

 they are on the old range and seem to understand that they 

 are protected ; for no hunting is allowed in the park. He 

 also has a number of elks and the two bands roam the enclos- 

 ure in content. 



The antelope resembles the goat family as regards the 

 musk odor, and it is like the deer family in its symmetrical 



