The Prongborn Antelope 107 



Along the Little Missouri the fawns, sometimes 

 one and sometimes two in number, were dropped 

 in May or early in June. At that time the ante- 

 lope were usually found in herds which the mother 

 did not leave until she was about to give birth to 

 the fawn. During the first few days the fawn's 

 safety is to be found only in its not attracting 

 attention. During this time it normally lies per- 

 fectly flat on the ground, with its head outstretched, 

 and makes no effort to escape. While out on the 

 spring round-up I have come across many of these 

 fawns. Once, in company with several cowboys, 

 I was riding behind a bunch of cattle which, as 

 we hurried them, spread out in open order ahead 

 of us. Happening to cast down my eyes I saw 

 an antelope fawn directly ahead of me. The 

 bunch of cattle had passed all around it, but it 

 made not the slightest sign, not even when I 

 halted, got off my pony, and took it up in my 

 arms. It was useless to take it to camp and try 

 to rear it, and so I speedily put it down again. 

 Scanning the neighborhood I saw the doe hang- 

 ing about some half a mile off, and when I looked 

 back from the next divide I could see her gradu- 

 ally drawing near to the fawn. 



If taken when very young, antelope make cun- 

 ning and amusing pets, and I have often seen 

 them around the ranches. There was one in the 

 ranch of a Mrs. Blank who had a station on the 



