100 THE TRAPPER'S FOOD. 



* 



mountain ranges of Siberia and Central Asia. They are very- 

 fleet and sure of foot, and when disturbed rush to the most 

 inaccessible places among the rocks and peaks. They are 

 gregarious and live in small flocks. In the winter these flocks 

 are sometimes enveloped in the deep snow-drifts. In such 

 cases they lie quietly under the snow and respire through a 

 small breathing-hole. The hunters eagerly hunt for these 

 imprisoned Argalis, and spear them through the snow. At 

 other times they are hunted with the same cautious strategy 

 that is required in the case of the big-horn. 



THE PRONG-HORN ANTELOPE. 



This animal abounds on the western plains of the United 

 States. It is the only species of Antelope in North America. 

 It is of nearly the same size as the Virginia deer. They differ 

 from all other Antelopes in having a prong or branch on each 

 horn. This prong is situated about the middle of the horn 

 on the anterior face. The tops of the horns curve inward 

 and backward, forming a small hook like those of the cha- 

 mois. The legs of the Prong-horn are long and slender, 

 the ears long, narrow, and pointed, and the tail short and 

 bushy. The whole form is stately, elegant, and graceful. 

 The color of the upper parts is a yellowish-brown ; the under 

 parts, with a patch on the rump, are grayish-white. Their 

 favorite haunts are the low prairies adjoining the covered 

 woody bottoms. They are also found on the upland prairies, 

 and along the rivers and streams. They swim well. They 

 sometimes congregate in large flocks ; at other times only one 

 or two are seen. In the winter the Indians take advantage 

 of their congregating together and hunt them by a " sur- 

 round." The manner of doing this is as follows : A large 

 number of Indians distribute themselves around the Antelope 

 at such a distance as not to alarm them. Then they advance 

 with cries and noise from all sides. The Antelope, instead of 

 endeavoring to escape, herd closer together in their fright, and 

 suffer themselves to be beaten down with clubs. In this way 

 great numbers are sometimes killed. Though very wild and 

 shy, the Antelope is full of curiosity. Any novel object at- 



