CHAPTER XXII. 



UNGULATES, continued. 



THE PRONGBUCK, Family ANTILOCAPRID^E ; and 



THE GIRAFFE, Family GIRAFFID^E. 



THE prongbuck of North America and the giraffe of Africa differ so much from all 

 other living Ruminants, and likewise from one another, that they are referred by 

 common consent to two distinct families, namely, the Antilocapridce and the 

 Giraffidce. Whereas, however, the former is closely allied to the preceding family 

 of the Oxen, the affinities of the latter are rather with the Deer family, to be 

 described in the next chapter. 



THE PRONGBUCK. 

 Family ANTILOCAPRID^. 



The prongbuck or prong-horned antelope (Antilocapra americana) much 

 resembles an antelope in general appearance, but differs from all members of the 

 family Bovidce in that the sheaths of the horns give off a short branch about the 

 middle of their length from their front edge, while the sheaths themselves are 

 periodically shed and afterwards replaced by a new growth. 



The prongbuck stands about 2 feet 10 inches in height at the shoulder, and 

 some 3 inches more at the rump, and is of a light and graceful build, with the head 

 carried very high. The head is of moderate length, with the muzzle hairy except 

 for a narrow line in the middle of the upper lip, and large and pointed ears. The 

 horns, which are present in both sexes, rise vertically above the eyes ; they are 

 much compressed from side to side, and curved slightly backwards at the tips, 

 while the anterior process is inclined upwards and forwards at an angle of about 

 45 degrees with the main axis. The bony cores of the horns are dagger-shaped, 

 without any branching. The tail is extremely short, not exceeding 3 inches in 

 length, and the feet have small hoofs and no traces of the lateral hoofs so commonly 

 present in the Bovidce. There is no gland on the face below the eye, neither are 

 there any tufts of hair on the knees. 



The coloration of the prongbuck is decidedly handsome and striking; the 

 general hair of the upper-parts and outer surfaces of the limbs being chestnut. The 

 hair on the back of the neck, which is of the general chestnut tint, is lengthened 

 into a kind of mane. The face is brownish black ; but the summit of the head 

 above the eyes, and likewise the ears, cheeks, and chin are white. White also 



