THE STORY OF THE ANTELOPE. 



343 



tions, and so they and their ancestors for untold generations have had no 

 occasion to overleap high obstructions, and thus from disuse they do not 

 know how to do it. 



If a prong-buck 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 outrun 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. When excited during its gambols with its fel- 

 lows, or by the emotions of rage or fear, the appearance of the prong-buck 



PRONG-BUCK, OR AMERICAN ANTELOPE. 



alters considerably. On such occasions the hair of the white patch on the 

 rump rises up on each side of the backbone, and remains as erect and stiff as 

 bristles. 



There are many stories about the great distance that ostriches can see, 

 but the ostrich is near-sighted when compared with the American antelope. 

 I have never had any difficulty in getting within two hundred yards of an 

 ostrich under favorable conditions, but during my early experience I never 

 got closer than six hundred yards to an American antelope. Even at that 

 distance the animal was wide awake and fully able to take care of itself. 



