124 THE AMERICAN ANTELOPE, OE PEONG-HOKN. 



the liver ; and it is said that hundreds of them are 

 killed for the sake of that delicacy only. 



The spirit of inquisitiveness so noticeable in the deer 

 exists in perhaps a greater proportion in the Antilo- 

 capra. Both white and Indian hunters take advantage 

 of this to entice the wild and suspicious creature within 

 shot of their bows or rifles, by lying flat and kicking 

 up their heels in the air, or by hoisting a piece of rag 

 on the end of a ramrod. 



An extract from Mayne Eeid's celebrated novel, ' The 

 Scalp Hunters,' will show som'e of the difficulties 

 attending antelope-hunting. 



^ On the third day after leaving the caravan, as we 

 were riding near the Cunmaron, I thought I observed 

 a pronged head disappear behind a swell in the prairie. 

 My companions were sceptical, and none of them 

 would go with me ; so, wheeling out of the trail, I 

 started alone. One of the men, for Grode was behind, 

 kept charge of my dog, as I did not choose to bring 

 him with me lest he might alarm the antelopes. My 

 horse was fresh and willing, and, whether successful or 

 not, I knew I could easily overtake the party by camp- 

 ing time. 



' I struck directly towards the spot where I had seen 

 the object. It appeared to be only half-a-mile or so 

 from the trail. It proved to be more distant — a com- 

 mon illusion in the crystal atmosphere of these upland 

 regions. 



