HABITAT. 23 
black, with yellowish white tips. Top and sides of neck, the back and 
upper half of sides, russet yellow ; below this, white, except usually three 
bands of russet yellow, beneath the neck. White extending up from 
the inguinal region involving the posteriors, uniting with a ovis patch 
on the rump. ‘Tail white, with a few tawny hairs on top. There is an 
interdigital gland on each foot, a cutaneous gland under each ear, another 
over each prominence of the ‘schium, another behind each hock, and 
one on the back, at the anterior edge of the white patch ; in all eleven. 
While the description already given of this interesting animal 
may enable the naturalist to distinguish it from all other quadru- 
peds, it by no means explains its natural history, nor does it give 
even a synopsis of it. To do this, we must descend to greater 
particularities. 
HABITAT. 
The native range of the Prong Buck is comparatively limited. 
It is not only confined to North America, but to the temperate 
region of the western part of this portion of the continent. 
We have no account or evidence that the Prong Buck was 
ever an inhabitant east of the Mississippi River, and it only 
reached that river in the higher latitudes. It is now found 
only west of the Missouri River. Westward, it originally in- 
habited all the region to the Pacific Ocean, within the present 
limits of the United States, except the wooded districts and 
high mountain ranges. It was very abundant in California, 
twenty-five years ago. My information is full that they were 
equally numerous throughout all the valleys and open country 
of that State. They were by no means uncommon in the open 
portions of Oregon. They are very scarce, if any exist in that 
State now; and California is at this time almost entirely de- 
serted by them. Their native range extends from the tropics 
to the fifty-fourth degree of north latitude. Within the de- 
scribed limits, they do not invade the timbered country, or the 
high naked mountains. Their favorite haunts are the naked 
plains or barren rolling country. If they endure scattering trees 
in a park-like region, or scanty shrubs, forests possess such terrors 
for them that these animals avoid them at any sacrifice. 
They appear to endure the presence of civilization in the east- 
ern and southern districts of the range better than in the northern 
and western; although a quarter of a century ago they were 
more abundant in the open country on the Pacific coast than in 
any other locality, —a region which they have now quite de- 
serted. 
