RAISING DEER FOR PROFIT 283 



squat and dodge like a rabbit, and it is at these 

 quick turns that the horses get gashed. 



At night the javelins sally forth to dig roots, 

 mushrooms, etc., and to feed upon nuts and 

 acorns, the latter now forming their chief- fare 

 in Texas. They also kill and eat snakes, liz- 

 ards, frogs, and any other small animals they 

 can catch. Near settlements they are, or used 

 to be, a nuisance by entering and damaging 

 gardens and planted fields. These animals are 

 to be seen in most zoological gardens where 

 they thrive and grow tame; but they have few 

 qualities to recommend them in a practical 

 way. 



Bighorn and mountain goat. The bighorn 

 is easily domesticated and would doubtless 

 flourish in any dry and elevated part of the 

 country, but it appears to be of no practical 

 value except for its flesh, and the gamy quality 

 of that, which now recommends it, would prob- 

 ably disappear in animals raised in a corral and 

 fed an unvaried pasture or lowland fodder. 

 The same may be said of the pronghorn ante- 

 lope. Its flesh is a better " venison" than that 

 of the sheep; but is difficult to adapt to cap- 



