ON THE PRAIh 83 



to be also good pasture for steers and co 

 and in summer the herds of the ranchman 

 wander far into the prairies of the antelope, 

 while in winter their chosen and favorite re- 

 sorts are those of which the black-tail is 

 equally fond. Thus, the cattle-men are al- 

 most as much foes of these kinds of game as 

 are the hunters, but neither cattle nor cow- 

 boys penetrate into the sterile and rocky 

 wastes where the big-horn is found. And it 

 is too wary game, and the labor of following 

 it is too great, for it ever to be much perse- 

 cuted by the skin or market hunters. 



In size the big-horn comes next to buffalo 

 and elk, averaging larger than the black- 

 tail deer, while an old ram will sometimes be 

 almost as heavy as a small cow elk. In his 

 movements he is not light and graceful like 

 the prong-horn and other antelopes, his mar- 

 vellous agility seeming rather to proceed 

 from sturdy strength and wonderful com- 

 mand over iron sinews and muscles. The 

 huge horns arc carried proudly erect by the 

 massive neck; every motion of the body is 



