THE ANTELOPE, OR PRONG-HORN. 3G7 



It differs in quality in various portions of the body, that 

 on the face and abdomen being the toughest. The general 

 color of the animal is a yellowish -tawny; but the lower 

 part of the sides, the belly, and a large patch on each flank 

 are white. The mane, which is quite conspicuous on the 

 male, is composed of long, firm, and erect red hairs. An 

 important feature in the animal is its glandular system, 

 which closely allies it with the true deer. Ten of the glands, 

 all of which are dermal, are in pairs, and emit a pungent 

 odor, which is more marked in the adult males than in the 

 females and young, and is stronger at cei'tain seasons than 

 at others, being most powerful during the running period. 



If taken young, and treated kindly, this interesting creat- 

 ure is easily tamed, and being of an affectionate disposi- 

 tion, and intelligent withal, learns to follow a person about 

 like a dog in a short time. It is a great pet in several 

 parts of the West, and a dozen may be seen at a time run- 

 ning about some farm-yards. It does not breed in domes- 

 tication, however, and I doubt if it lives long, as I did not 

 see one older than a year or two anywhere. If it does not 

 join its wild companions, some mysterious disease, not un- 

 like a poisoning of the blood, carries it away suddenly ; 

 and when it is severely indisposed it weeps copiously, as 

 if it were in deep affliction. Even in its natural condition, 

 and amidst its favorite haunts, it is often attacked by a 

 malady that destroys it in a few days ; and this frequently 

 becomes an epidemic so sweeping that few are left alive in 

 a large tract of country. The result is, that the animal is 

 very abundant one year and exceedingly rare another ; but 

 in this it only follows some hidden law of nature relative 

 to the deer family in general. The last great epidemic oc- 

 curred, as near as I can remember, in 1873 or 1874, and 

 that swept away so large a number that one section of the 

 country was almost cleared of them. 



The rutting season commences in September, and lasts 

 until November, and during that time the males engage in 

 severe contests, which are waged with horns and legs ; yet 

 I never saw any fatal results from them. 



