HABITS OF THE PEOXG-HOKX. 119 



American antelope, its generic name Antilocapra is 

 expressive of a close relationship with the goat tribe. 



The prong-horn, when fully grown, is as large as a 

 sheep, but as it has longer legs, it appears larger. 

 The hind legs are longer than the fore ones, a pro- 

 vision which not only considerably increases their speed 

 but gives them material assistance in bounding up 

 and down steep hills and rocky crags, over which these 

 beautiful creatures scamper with the most wonderful 

 dexterity and sureness of foot, as well as fleetness. 



The prong-horn is found in nearly all the western 

 territories of the United States, ranging as far up- 

 wards as the north branch of the Saskatchew^an, where, 

 however, they are merely summer visitors. The hunter 

 who would view them in all their glory must leave 

 the wooded valleys, and come away to the huge open 

 prairie. Its favourite haunt of all seems to be the 

 immense grassy plains that extend for hundreds of 

 miles without a break in Oregon and Texas, where 

 a sea of waving green is seen on every side, and the 

 eye feels a relief when it at length rests upon one 

 of those small isolated clumps of timber which, from 

 their exact resemblance to closely wooded islands, 

 are so named by the hunters. 



The prong-horn wanders about sometimes alone, 

 sometimes in groups of ten or twelve. It is very 

 keen-sighted, as are all the inhabitants of the prairies, 

 and has a very acute sense of smell. When a herd 



