I lo Deer and Antelope of North America 



a creek bed in a slight depression or shallow val- 

 ley, and was grazing uneasily. After a little while 

 he suddenly started and ran just as hard as he 

 could, off in a straight direction, nearly away from 

 me. I thought that somehow or other he had 

 discovered my presence ; but he suddenly wheeled 

 and came back to the original place, still running 

 at his utmost speed. Then he halted, moved about 

 with the white hairs on his rump outspread, and 

 again dashed off at full speed, halted, wheeled, 

 and came back. Two or three times he did this, 

 and let me get up very close to him before he dis- 

 covered me. I was too much interested in what 

 he was doing to desire to shoot him. 



In September, sometimes not earlier than Octo- 

 ber, the big bucks begin to gather the does into 

 harems. Each buck is then constantly on the 

 watch to protect his harem from outsiders, and 

 steal another doe if he can get a chance. I have 

 seen a comparatively young buck who had ap- 

 propriated a doe, hustle her hastily out of the 

 country as soon as he saw another antelope in 

 the neighborhood ; while, on the other hand, a 

 big buck, already with a good herd of does, will do 

 his best to appropriate any other that comes in 

 sight. The bucks fight fearlessly but harmlessly 

 among themselves, locking their horns and then 

 pushing as hard as they can. 



Although their horns are not very formidable 



