32 ^ ANTELOPE OF THE PRAIRIE. 



an unsuccessful attempt to approach them, which afforded me a first ink- 

 ling of the nature and character of these animals. 



The antelope of the grand prairie differs but little in size and shape 

 from the common sheep, and is coated with long, brittle hair, — of a ruddy 

 brown color, except at the tail and head, where it is short and white. The 

 female is hornless, except an occasional blunt corneous excrescence, some 

 two or three inches long., protruding from the head. The male, however, 

 is equipped with hook-shaped antlers, ebony colored, and six or eight inches 

 in length, which he sheds annually in the months of November and De- 

 cember. 



This is the fleetest inhabitant of the prairie. No horse can compete 

 with it in speed. Quick of sight, keen of scent, and acute of ear, it 

 seems ever on the alert at the approach of real or supposed danger, — now 

 swiftly advancing towards the object of its alarm or curiosity, — then circling 

 before you with the fleetness of the storm-wind, to mount some eminence far 

 away beyond reach, and gaze in security. Then, again, ere you have 

 time to catch breath for admiration, it repeats its semi-gyration from an 

 opposite direction, still nearer and swifter, till past, — as if indeed borne on 

 the wings of lightning — and yet again surveys you in the distance. Now, 

 running from point, to point it examines you upon all sides, as it cautiously 

 passes round, — then, snuffing the breeze, it again calls to aid its fleetness 

 of limb, and with the velocity of thought is lost to view in the vast ex- 

 panse. 



Possessed of an inordinate share of inquisitiveness, it not unfrequently 

 falls a victim to its own curiosity. The hunter, turbaned with a red hand- 

 kerchief and half concealed behind some object, first raising, then depress- 

 ing his head, then withdrawing it entirely from view, then again disclosing 

 it to the curious animal, is almost certain to allure his game within gun- 

 shot. 



I have seen numbers killed in this manner. In the spring season they 

 appear more sensitive than at any other time, and are easily lured to their 

 fate. 



With the exhibition of this strange propensity, I have time and again 

 been minded of its more fully developed moral prototype in man. How 

 frequently do we see persons around us who indulge their appetites and 

 passions, as often for mere curiosity as fancied pleasure, — venturing near- 

 er and still nearer towards the objects that command their attention and 

 lure them into the vortex of ruin, till, with sure and deadly aim, the shafts 

 of the tempter pierce the waning vitals of morality, and plunge the vic- 

 tims headlong into a yawning abyss, where they are lost to themselves, 

 to society, and to the world — lost lorever ! 



Here, then, is furnished for us a moral: — Beware how you indulge a 

 vain curiosity that lures to evil ; — never parley with temptation. 



These animals are found from the Big Blue to the mountains — in 

 Oregon, Cahfornia, Santa Fe, and N. W. Texas. Their flesh is tender 

 and sweet, — quite equal to venison, though seldom fat, owing, as is sup- 

 posed, to their almost incessant mobility. 



Near our night-camp I noticed fresh beaver " cuttings," some of which 

 consisted of trees, six inches in diameter, levelled by these sagacious ani- 

 mals. 



