THE ANTELOPE 235 



buffaloes and antelopes extremely abundant, 1 found the 

 trails of the former indistinct scars on the plains, over- 

 grown with grass, and even a small herd of antelopes in 

 many places was an unusual sight. 



The range of the antelope to-day is very limited. 

 The animals have retreatd to small areas, far away 

 from civilization. They are extinct in great States 

 where a few years ago they were most abundant. 

 They were formerly as plentiful in California as any- 

 where in the country. They were fairly abundant on 

 the prairies of Oregon, but there are few left in those 

 States, and those that remain are protected by law. * 

 The rifles of the miners, ranchmen, and settlers, and 

 the destruction of the food by great flocks of sheep, 

 soon proved too much for the antelopes of California, 

 as well as those of the great plains. 



Judge Caton says the antelope appears to endure 

 the presence of civilization in the eastern and southern 

 districts of the range better than the northern and 

 western ; although a quarter of a century ago they 

 were more abundant in the open country on the 

 Pacific coast than in any other locality. 



The antelope was always a wild and timid animal, 

 but its curiosity so often overcame its fear that it really 

 seemed quite tame at times. Any peculiar and strange 

 object, especially white objects, or objects striking in 

 color, proved irresistibly attractive. There are many 

 records of the antelope coming up within easy range 

 of the white tent of the hunter. Our camp, on one 

 occasion, was in a mountain meadow beside a spring, 

 and late in the afternoon, just as we sat down to din- 



* In California at all times. 



