120 THE AMERICAN ANTELOPE, OR PRONG-HORN. 



of prong-horns first catch sight of the hunter, they do 

 not appear to be in the least degree afraid of him, 

 but pause in their rapid course to gaze upon the 

 intruder, and stamp with their forefeet much like 

 a flock of sheep when a strange dog enters their 

 pasture. But if any movement should lead them to 

 suppose that the stranger has unfriendly intentions 

 towards them, they bound away at a speed which out- 

 strips that of the greyhound. 



The prong-horned antelope brings forth its young at 

 about the same season as the common deer : that is, 

 from the beginning of the month of May till the 

 middle of June. It generally produces two fawns at 

 a birth, sometimes only one ; but I believe it has 

 never been known to produce more than two. These 

 fawns are not marked with spots like the young of 

 the common deer, but are always of a uniform dun 

 colour. Until they are some days old, the mother 

 remains near them, feeding in the immediate vicinity 

 of the spot on the short sweet grass of the prairies, 

 but gradually extending the limit of her pasturage. 

 So rapidly do the fawns grow in size and strength 

 that, when a fortnight old, they are able to run by 

 the side of the dam with quite sufficient speed to 

 enable them to escape from wolves or any other four- 

 footed foe, unless taken by surprise or while asleep. 



If, as is sometimes the case, it should happen that 

 the fawns are discovered and attacked by wolves before 



