THE PRONG -HORNED ANTELOPE. 221 



unless hung for a long time, the flesh, is tough and 

 stringy, although well- flavoured, having a peculiar 

 gamey flavour not unlike hare. 



The sexes can be distinguished by the inferiority 

 of height in the female, by the horns being only 

 prickers without the prong, and by the absence of 

 mane, which the male when in winter pelage possesses 

 of considerable size. 



These animals at one time were found abundant as 

 soon as the great plains were reached that lay westward 

 of the Mississippi ; now, however, their eastern limit is 

 much farther off towards the Rocky Mountains, while 

 from Northern Mexico to fifty-two or fifty-three degrees 

 north latitude, may be asserted as their northern and 

 southern bounds. From their being at home in, or in- 

 digenous to, so large an extent of country, where every 

 temperature can be felt, from the heat of Africa to 

 the cold of Siberia, it seems that they are well worth 

 attention for acclimatisation. If this be not done 

 they will soon cease to exist, and what a reproach it 

 would be that an animal so beautiful, graceful, and 

 appropriate for our parks should pass away without a 

 representative. 



I am now making efforts to procure some of these 

 antelopes. I hope soon to be able to report success, 

 for I should truly feel proud if I were the instrument 



