754 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



A "BUNCH OF ANTELOPE" OX THE OPEN PRAIRIE 



Figure 11. Photographically copied hy the author from a colored plate in "Mammals of America" courtesy of The University Society, 

 Incorporated, of New York City. The original is an elegant canvas by the famous animal painter, Carl Rungius. 



when deer, elk, or prairie-dogs were not available. In 

 those times nearly all the Indians possessed fire-arms, 

 and many of them were excellent shots ; but formerly 

 they hunted them with bows and arrows, as referred to 

 by Caton in the following words : "Our antelope was 

 an essential article of food among the aborigines in- 

 habiting the country which it frequented before the intro- 

 duction of fire-arms among them. They had various 

 modes of capturing it, chief among which was the bow 

 and arrow. This mode involved the necessity of getting 

 a very close range. This could only be done by some 

 kind of artifice, or by the most skilful and cautious 

 stalking, always remembering its defective eyesight, its 

 acute senses of hearing and smelling, as well as its in- 

 ordinate curiosity. The latter infirmity was taken ad- 

 vantage of by the savage, who, approaching the game 

 as nearly as he safely could from behind the sage bushes 

 or other concealing object, exhibiting in irregular motion 

 a piece of the tanned skin of the animal, colored red or 

 white, or some other attractive object, would attract the 

 game. When the attention of the antelope is attracted 

 by such an object alternately appearing and disappearing, 

 its curiosity becomes excited, and an interesting struggle 



commences between that and its timidity ; it will approach 

 cautiously, then retreat a little, then prance around, 

 drawing towards the object gradually, till it is finally 

 brought within bow-shot. Then it was that the Indian 

 would let fly his arrow from his concealment, or spring 

 to his feet, the arrow to the string, and the bow partly 

 drawn, and strike his victim before his fleetness could 

 carry him beyond reach." 



On a number of occasions our antelope has been kept 

 in the paddocks or otherwise at the National Zoological 

 Park with varying success. As a rule they do not 

 breed under such conditions, and they frequently do 

 not seem to either possess the desire or the power to 

 have young. 



Those who desire to carry the natural history of our 

 antelope still further are referred to the interesting con- 

 tributions to the subject by Dr. Murie, of England, and 

 Dr. Canfield, who made his observations and experiments 

 as long ago as April, 1828. Since his time many of 

 our naturalists have devoted more or less literature to 

 the life-history of this animal ; while upon the other hand, 

 various parts of its anatomy stand sadly in need of 

 thorough examination and the results duly published. 



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