56 ANTELOPE OF THE PRAIRIE. 



an unsuccessful attempt to approach them, which afforded me a first ink- 

 ling of the nature and character of these animals. 



The antelope of the grand prairie ditiers but little in size and shape 

 from the common sheep, and is coated \vdtii long, brittle hair, — of a ruddy 

 brown color, except at the tail and head, where it is short and white. The 

 female is hornless, except an occasional blunt corneous excrescence, some 

 two or three inches longf protruding from tlie liead. The male, however 

 is equipped with hook-shaped antlers, ebony colored, and six or eight inches 

 in length, which he sheds annually in the months of November and De- 

 cember. 



Tliis is the fleetest inhabitant of the prairie. No horse can compete 

 with it in speed. Quick of sight, keen of scent, and acute of ear, it 

 seems ever on the alert at the approach of real or supposed danger, — now 

 swiftly advancing towards the object of its aJarm or curiosity,— then circling 

 before you with the fleetness of tlie storm- wind, to mount some eminence far 

 away beyond reach, and gaze in security. Tlien, again, ere you have 

 time to catch breath for admiration, it repeats its semi-gyration from an 

 opposite direction, stili nearer and swifter, till past, — as if indeed borne on 

 tlie v/ings of lightning — and yet again surveys you in the distance. Now, 

 running from point, to point it examines you upon all sides, as it cautiously 

 passes round, — then, snuffing the breeze, it again calls to aid its fleetness 

 of limb, and v/ith the velocity of thought is. lost to view in the vast ex- 

 panse. 



Possessed of an inordinate share of inquisitiveness, it not unfrequently 

 falls a victim to its own curiosit}'. The hunter, turbaned with a red hand- 

 kerchief and half concealed behind some object, first raising, then depress- 

 ing his head, then vvithdrav/iDg it entirely from view, then again disclosing 

 it to the curious animal, is almost certain to allure his game within gun- 

 shot. 



I have seen numbers killed in this manner. In the spring season they 

 appear more sensitive than at nny other time, and are easily lured to their 

 fate. 



With the exhibition of this strange propensity, I have time and again 

 been minded of its more iuliy developed moral prototype in man. How 

 frequently do we see persons around us who indulge their appetites and 

 passions, as often for mere curioi=ity as fancied pleasure, — venturing near- 

 er and still nearer towards the objects that connnand their attention and 

 lure them into t)ie vortex of ruin, till, with sure and deadly aim, the shafts 

 ^f the tempter pierce the waning vitals of morality, ond plunge the vic- 

 tims headlong into a yawning abyss, where they are lost to themselves, 

 to society, and to the world — lost forever! 



Here, then, is furnished for us a moral: — Beware how you mdulge a 

 vain curiosity that lures to evil ; — never parley with temptation. 



These animals arc found from the Big Blue to tiie mountains — m 

 Oregon, Cahfornia, ?Santa Fe, and N. W. Texas. Their flesh is tender 

 and sweet, — quite equal to venison, though seldom fat, owing, as is sup-- 

 posed, to their almost inccsoant mobility. 



Near our night-camp I noticGd fresh beaver " cuttings " some of which 

 consisted of trees, six inches in diameter, levelled by ^ese sagacious ani- 



