American Prong-Horn 
sheltered valleys among the nus and, as spring comes on, the 
females separate from the rest of the herd and give birth to 
their kids, usually two in number. These they keep in hiding 
and watch jealously for a fortnight. At the end of a short 
time they are strong and reliant on their legs and capable of 
following their mothers wherever they go. 
The herd now wanders out over the open plains and low 
rolling foot-hills, where the wide free outlook makes it possible 
for them to detect danger at an immense distance. When alarmed, 
they crowd together and dash away like the wind and, being 
easily the swiftest runners on the continent, are in little danger 
of being overtaken. Their innate curiosity, however, often gets 
them into trouble. A handkerchief on the end of a stick, or 
anything, in fact, that excites their curious interest, will frequently 
draw them within gunshot, unless they manage to get the 
wind of their enemy, when, scenting danger, they are off and 
away. 
During the summer months the old bucks live apart from 
the females and their families; towards autumn, however, they 
become more sociable and friendly, and join their mates once 
more, the herds constantly increasing in size until November. 
In defending their kids the females use their sharp hoofs 
with savage effectiveness, striking a quick downward blow with 
their forefeet that might easily disable a wolf that came too close. 
It is said that they will cut a rattlesnake to pieces before he 
has a chance to strike. 
Like other distinctively Western animals, the antelope attracted 
much attention from Audubon on his famous expedition up the 
Missouri, and all its peculiarities of habit were carefully observed. 
In his account of the species he says: 
‘‘Observe now a flock of these beautiful animals; they are 
not afraid of man—they pause in their rapid course to gaze on 
the hunter, and stand with heads erect, their ears as well as 
eyes directed toward him, and make a loud noise by stamping | 
with their forefeet on the hard earth; but suddenly they become 
aware that he is no friend of theirs, and away they bound like 
a flock of frightened sheep—but far more swiftly, even the kids 
running with extraordinary speed by the side of their parents— 
and now they turn around a steep hiil and disappear, then per- 
55 
