232 THE OX FAMILY 



male and female, was seated in supervision of the chase. 

 The antelopes, nearly exhausted with fatigue and fright, 

 and bewildered by perpetual whooping, made no effort 

 to break through the ring of hunters, but ran around 

 in small circles, until man, woman, and child beat them 

 down with bludgeons. Such is the nature of that spe- 

 cies of antelope-hunting technically called a surround." 



Mr. Croker says a four-foot fence is ample to confine 

 antelopes. Judge Caton says the prong-buck cannot, 

 or rather, I should say, does not, know how to leap 

 over high obstructions like animals which inhabit 

 wooded countries. 



Judge Caton also states that the prong-buck may be 

 restrained by a fence which would be sufficient to con- 

 fine our domestic sheep. They can make great hori- 

 zontal jumps, however, and Judge Caton saw one make 

 a long jump across the track of the Union Pacific Rail- 

 way. "If the antelope on the plains desires to cross 

 the railroad track, when alarmed by the cars, as is 

 sometimes the case, he will strain every muscle to out- 

 run the train and cross ahead of it, as if he suspected a 

 purpose to cut him off from crossing, and thus many 

 an exciting race has been witnessed between muscle 

 and steam. The same disposition is manifested by the 

 bison, or buffalo, as we call him, and if either is beaten 

 in the race he will turn away to the plains in apoparent 

 disgust, but will never cross the track immediately 

 behind the train."* 



* This does not agree with the performance of an antelope which I have 

 already described as jumping the track at the rear of our train. The incident 

 illustrates the danger of stating a rule of conduct to be absolute. Later ob- 

 servation often produces exceptions. The antelopes, no doubt, usually run 

 away from trains. 



