226 THE ANTELOPE. 
would conclude a violent hurricane had pass- 
ed among them 
That species of gazelle known as the an- 
telope is very numerous upon the high plains. 
This beautiful animal, though reckoned a link 
between the deer and goat, is certainly much 
nearest the latter. It is about the size and 
somewhat of the figure of a large goat. Its 
horns also resemble those of the latter, being 
likewise persistent; but they are more erect, 
and have a short prong projecting in front. 
The ground of this animal’s color a little re- 
sembles that of the common deer, but it is 
variegated with a whitish section or two on 
each side. 
The antelope is most remarkable for its 
fleetness: not bounding like the deer, but 
skimming over the ground as though upon 
skates. The fastest horse. will rarely overtake 
them. I once witnessed an effort to catch 
one that had a hind-leg broken, but it far out- 
stripped our fleetest ‘buffalo-horse.’ It is, _ 
fore, too swift to be hunted in the chase. [hav 
seen dogs run after this animal, but ios 
would soon stop and turn about, apparently 
much ashamed of being left so far behind. 
The flesh of the antelope is, like that of the 
goat, rather coarse, and but little esteemed : 
consequently, no great efforts are made to 
take them. Being as wild as fleet, the hunt- 
ing of them is very difficult, except they be 
entrapped by their curiosity. Meeting a stran- 
ger, they seem loth to leave him until they 
have fully found him out. They will often 
