NATURAL HISTORY. 561 
_ tattlesnake. I had often heard that this reptile was found 
among them, and thought it must be accidental, until I wit- 
hessed how frequently it occurs. On one occasion I saw sev- 
eral of those revolting creatures enter a single hole in the very 
midst of a (log-town. No one can believe that any friendship 
exists between animals of such opposite natures ; and it can- 
hot be doubted that the rattlesnake takes up his abode among 
them for sinister purposes, They cannot drive him away, and 
are therefore compelled to give him quiet possession of any 
habitation he may enter, and allow him occasionally to feed 
upon the junior members of the fraternity, 
_ Ihave seen the prairie dogs in Texas, New Mexico, Chi- 
huahua, Sonora, and California. 
During our various journeys we encountered numerous 
herds of antelopes on the plains. Several were shot and found 
to be excellent eating. They are more timid than the deer, 
a good deal of stratagem is necessary to secure one. 
The antelope is considered a more beautiful animal than 
the deer. Its legs are more slender, and its body of different 
Colors, light and dark brown, red with a white belly, spotted, 
and sometimes pure white. Their horns are quite short and 
Consist of a simple curved stem without branches. Catlin, I 
think, in his Wild Sports of the West, speaks of the curiosity 
of the antelope’s disposition, and of a method resorted to by 
_ hunters to entrap or shoot it. This is to affix a piece of red 
Cloth to a pole and insert it in the earth. The animals see it 
4s they bound over the prairie, turn from their course, and 
 timidly approach it, some venturous buck leading the way. 
__ The rest of the herd follow him in single file, after the old es- 
_ tablished custom of the prairies. In the mean time the hunt- 
_ has concealed himself in the grass, so that, when the herd 
_ 4pproaches, he selects the fattest for his mark. It sometimes 
happens that several are thus killed from a single herd. One 
of the members of the Commission tried the experiment of 
lying in wait for a passing herd. As they approached he shot 
| VOL. 11.—36 
