OF THE LARGE AMERICAN MAMMALS 207 



Already all the states that possess wild antelope, except 

 Nevada, have passed laws giving that species long close sea- 

 sons; which is highly creditable to the states that have done 

 their duty. 



In 1908 Dr. T. S. Palmer published in his annual report 

 of "Progress in Game Protection" the following in regard to 

 the prong-horned antelope: 



"Antelope are still found in diminished numbers in four- 

 teen western states. A considerable number were killed 

 during the year in Montana, where the species seems to have 

 suffered more than elsewhere since the season was opened in 

 1907. 



"A striking illustration of the decrease of the antelope is 

 afforded by Colorado. In 1898 the state warden estimated 

 that there were 25,000 in the state, whereas in 1908 the game 

 commissioner places the number at only 2,000. The total 

 number of antelope now in the United States probably does 

 not exceed 17,000, distributed approximately as follows: 



Colorado 2,000 



Idaho 200 



Montana 4,000 



New Mexico 1,300 



Oregon 1,500 



Wyoming 4,000 



Yellowstone Park 2,000 



Other states 2,000 



Saskatchewan 2,000 



19,000" 



To-day the total number of antelope is much less than it 

 was in 1908, and in spite of protection the number is steadily 



