THE PRONG-BUCK 79 



animal lie, have wisely forbidden any one to hunt it without special 

 permission. It appears to be purely a forest animal, and very wary 

 and quick of hearing, as might be expected from its large ears. It 

 is not usually gregarious, only a pair, and sometimes their young 

 one, being found together; and they travel in single file, the male 

 strictly observing the rule of "ladies first," a piece of gallant behaviour 

 which is apt to lead to his receiving the bullet of the hunter when 

 the pair are in retreat. He also is credited with keeping watch while 

 his mate grazes, whereas in many, if not most ruminants, it is the 

 female which does sentinel duty; but a monogamous animal might 

 naturally be expected to show more devotion to his female than the 

 usual polygamous members of this group. 



The Okapi is said to be gentle and harmless, with a soft gazelle- 

 like expression in its dark eyes ; it appears to low like a Cow. Its 

 food consists of leaves and grass, in search of which latter it frequents 

 open places in the forests traversed by little brooks which enable the 

 grass to grow; these places it only visits at night, and it has very 

 seldom been seen alive by Europeans as yet. The savages procure 

 it not only by means of pitfalls, but also by lying in wait for it and 

 spearing it. Their word Okapi, applied to it, really means " Donkey," 

 and the more usual name is Dumba. 



THE PRONG-BUCK 



(Antilocapra americana) 



THE Giraffe family find their nearest allies in the Deer, while the 

 Prong-buck, although it has a distinct family (Antilocapridce) all to 

 itself, is undoubtedly very near the hollow-horned ruminants, and 

 therefore rather out of place here ; but it demands notice, and the true 

 Antelopes are so numerous that it could not be dealt with after them. 

 It is often known in North America, where alone it is found, simply 

 as " the Antelope," and, were it not for its peculiar horns, would pass 

 as one of that group. It is about as big as a Fallow-deer, and 



