THE PRONGBUCK 333 



frequently it will get away, even though shot in several 

 places. It is dangerous at close quarters, dropping upon 

 its knees until it is able to make a sudden leap at its enemy. 

 The animal is not much hunted by the natives, as the 

 Hindoos class it as a member of the Ox tribe, the flesh of 

 which is not partaken. The skin is useful, but the horns 

 are a very insignificant trophy of the chase. 



PRONG-HORNED ANTELOPE (Antilocapra americana). 

 Plate XXXII. Fig. i. 



The Prong-Horned Antelope, or Prongbuck, is one of 

 the very few species found in the New World. The horns 

 of the animal, as indicated in its name, are branched, and 

 they are shed every year. In these two respects it differs 

 from all other of the Hollow-horned Ruminants. 



The animal, which in America is often called the Antelope, 

 pure and simple, is about three feet in height at the 

 shoulder. Lightly and gracefully built, and carrying its 

 head high, its coat is chestnut in colour, with the hind- 

 quarters and under parts white. The face is dark-brownish 

 with white on the top of the head, the ears, cheeks, and chin. 

 Across the throat are three bars of russet yellow. 



The chief point of interest in the Pronghorn concerns 

 its horns, which in structure are very similar to those of 

 the sheep and goats. About a foot in length, they are 

 flattened from side to side, bending backwards at their 

 tips. From about the middle of their length is thrown 

 out a short branch, which is directed outwards. Hunters 

 frequently asserted that the animal shed its horns ; but it 

 does not appear to have been accepted as a fact, until an 

 animal in confinement in the London Zoological Gardens 

 afforded actual and visible proof of the peculiarity. 



Notwithstanding its fine turn of speed, the Prongbuck 

 is a poor jumper the result of its prairie life, where 

 obstacles are few and far between. In districts where the 

 animal has not been much disturbed it is by no means 

 a hard matter to get within gun-shot of it ; but it speedily 

 becomes shy and timid, and taxes the skill of the hunter 



