THE HOE>'S OF THE ANTELOPE. 121 



they are strong enough to escape, the mother will 

 fio'ht in their defence with the utmost bravery, rushing 

 on the foe at full speed and hurling them over, using 

 her short horns, and sometimes throwing a wolf high 

 into the air. The forefeet also come into play : with 

 them she strikes such severe blows as frequently to 

 put two or three wolves to flight. Should she succeed 

 in driving them away, she will depart for some pasture 

 where wolves are less numerous, or, with her young 

 fawns, ascend some almost inaccessible hill-side. 



In the month of September the rutting season 

 begins, and continues for about six weeks. During this 

 period the bucks fight fiercely, sometimes till death 

 stops the combat. If the male chances to meet a rival, 

 both immediately prepare for a duel ; lowering their 

 heads, they run at full speed at each other, their eyes 

 flashing angrily. AATiile striking at each other with 

 their horns, they exhibit wonderful activity and rapidity 

 in their movements, trying, like fencers, to get within 

 each others * guards,' and each using the recurved 

 branches of his horns as a weapon. 



.Hunters for a long time supposed that the prong- 

 horn, like the common deer, was in the habit of cast- 

 ing its horns every year. They are never seen with- 

 out horns after they arrive at maturity, and further 

 examination will prove that those ornamental and use- 

 ful appendages are immovably attached to the skull. 



The prong-horn has a large, lustrous, intelligent. 



