CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 9. RUMINANTIA, 



545 





THE PRONG-HORN. 



the horns are strongly compressed, rough, and scrabous or pearly, like the antlers of deer ; above 

 it they are round, black, and polished. The prong itself is also very much compressed ; it is little 

 more than an inch in length, and points forward, upward, and a little outward. The ears are 

 long, narrow, and pointed ; the tail short and bushy ; the eve large and lively ; the limbs long 

 and slender; and the whole form and appearance of the animal peculiarly graceful and elegant. 

 The head, ears, and legs are covered with short, close hair of the common description, but that of 

 the body is long and padded, and of a texture altogether different from that of other animals. It 

 is tubular or hollow- within, like the feather of a bird, but so brittle and devoid of elasticity that 

 it snaps with the smallest effort, and, when pressed between the finger and thumb, crushes like a 

 reed and never regains its original form. It stands directly out at right-angles to the hide, is 

 about two inches long on the back, sides, and buttocks, but from the ears half-way down the neck 

 it exceeds six inches in length, and forms an erect mane, equally conspicuous in both sexes. On 

 the nape of the neck, shoulders, back, and hips, it is of a uniform fawn-color for half an inch at 

 the point, and light-blue with a tinge of rose-color at the root; on the sides, chest, and belly, the 

 latter color prevails at the root, and the point is of a pure and shining white. The extremities 

 are uniform light fawn-color throughout, except on the interior of the fore-arms and thighs, which 

 are white. A broad disk of pure white also surrounds the tail, and passes over the croup, and the 

 throat is likewise marked with two ti'ansverse bands of the same color. This is the winter dress 

 of the animal; but in summer, when the new coat appears, it has at first the ordinary texture 

 and appearance of common hair, and only assumes the appearances here described on the ap- 

 proach of the cold season. 



The Prong-IIorn inhabits all the western parts of North America, from 53° of north latitude 

 to the plains of New Mexico and California, that is, presuming this species to be the Mazama of 

 Hernandez : it is particularly numerous on the banks of the southern branch of the Saskatchewan, 

 and on the upper plains of the Columbia River, and a small herd annually visits the neighborhood 

 of the station called Carlton House, where some even linger throughout the winter. They are 

 gregarious, frequent the open plains and hills of moderate height, never inhabit closely-wooded 

 districts, and migrate from north to south according to the season. "When the ground is clear, 

 their speed surpasses that of most other animals, but a good horse easily outstrips them after a 

 slight fall of snow. They are extremely curious, and the Indians, and even the wolves, know how 



Vol. I.— 69 



