122 



THE GAME BREEDER 



its horns each year, it is like the deer. 

 It is the only animal on the American 

 continent which possesses two hoofs on 

 each foot like a giraffe. The antelope 

 stands about three feet high at the 

 shoulder and an average buck weighs 

 between 80 and 100 pounds. The color 

 is a rich tan with large white spots. The 

 eyes are very large for an animal of its 

 size, but in spite of this the antelope does 

 not seem to have extraordinary powers 

 of sight. 



The horns have but one short prong. 

 Unlike deer, the antelope is never abso- 

 lutely hornless, for the new horn is fair- 

 ly well developed before the old one is 

 shed. Old bucks usually shed their horns 

 in October, but younger animals usually 

 shed later on. A close examination of 

 the material making up the horns will 

 show that they are' composed of agluti- 

 nated hairs — just a mass of hair cement- 

 ed together. 



During the late fall and winter ante- 

 lope gather together in mixed herds, but 

 in the spring they separate. The fe- 

 males usually go about singly until after 

 the young are born, when they again 

 unite in small groups. The young are 

 horn in May and June and twins are 

 very common. 



Antelope are very fleet and it is said 

 that dogs are unable to overtake them. 

 When frightened they give a sort of 

 "snort." The only other sound which 

 these animals are known to emit is a 

 sort of "grunting bleat" used by the 

 mothers in calling their young. 



The prong-horned antelope is noted 

 for its curiosity. In the early days this 

 habit was made use of by hunters, who 

 would bring the animals up within gun- 

 shot by waving a coat or red handker- 

 chief on the end of a stick, or by lying 

 down on their backs and kicking their 

 legs in the air. For many years past, 

 however, these animals have profited 

 by experience and are not so easily 

 taken in by this ruse. 



Once a highly prized game mammal, 

 the prong-horned antelope is now so re- 

 duced in numbers that it has to be abso- 

 lutely protected. A slight increase in 

 numbers has been reported from a few 



of the localities where they are still 

 found. But even with the total protec- 

 tion afforded them at the present time, 

 doubt can be expressed as to the pos- 

 sibility of their long persisting as a 

 member of our fauna. In the early his- 

 tory of San Francisco there may be 

 found statements as to the cheapness 

 of antelope meat to be found on the 

 market. It was doubtless this market 

 demand which first caused a great re- 

 duction in the numbers of antelope. If 

 the remnant of them left in our state 

 could be placed in game refuges where 

 they could have plenty of food and good 

 care there is a possibility that they would 

 increase. The State of Virginia has 

 conclusively shown us what can be done 

 by carefully protecting deer. Certainly 

 every person in the State of California 

 would welcome the increase of this 

 strange and interesting deerlike animal, 

 the prong-horned antelope. 



New Members. 



Our invitation to members of The 

 Game Conservation Society to help in 

 doubling the membership has met with 

 a hearty response from all over the 

 country. We hope all. of our readers 

 will take a hand in this work. It should 

 be easy for most of them to secure new 

 subscribers by using the cards which are 

 sent to all. Here are a few sample re- 

 plies : 



Chicago. 



I received the two cards and am send- 

 ing you $5 ; one for my own subscrip- 

 tion. 



Massachusetts. 



I received two cards and am sending 

 you three new subscribers. 



Colorado. 



Please send the magazine to the two 

 persons named on the inclosed cards 

 and send me some more cards. It is a 

 pleasure for me to get new subscribers. 



Michigan. 



I used the two cards sent, promptly. 

 Please send me some more. 



