The Prong- Horned Antelope 39 
Antelope poses. 
Mr. W. T. Hornaday says: "In running 
it has three very distinct gaits. When flee- 
ing from danger it carries its head low like 
a running sheep, and gallops by long leaps; 
when showing off it holds its head as high as 
possible and trots. . . . Occasionally 
it gallops with high head by stiff-legged 
leaps like the Mule Deer." ("Amer. Nat. 
Hist.," 1904, p. 117.) 
Why does the Antelope occasionally make 
these high, and but slightly progressive 
bounds? Undoubtedly for the same rea- 
son as the Jack Rabbit makes a "spy hop." 
They are to give it a momentary high out- 
look whence it can scan the surroundings 
and take in the situation. 
I have gathered many observations to get 
an idea of the actual speed of certain quad- 
rupeds and have arrived at a scale, which, 
however, I submit with much hesitation. 
Of course we have no actual gauge on the 
speed of the wild species ; it must be arrived 
at by various devices and comparisons, elim- 
inating all guesses. The estimates of hunt- 
ers, etc., are always too high; besides it is a 
misleading fact that of two animals going at 
the same rate, the smaller always appears 
to be going faster. 
I think it is safe to say that the Horse, the 
ancient standard of speed, still holds his 
own. There seems no good reason for sup- 
posing that any creature on legs, two, three, 
or four, ever went for any distance so fast as 
a blooded race-horse; and Caiman's mile in 
I minute 383 seconds, cited by Arbitrator 
in The London Field for December 31, 1904, 
is probably the fastest pace reliably recorded 
for anything afoot. 
On the uplands of Mexico 
in 1892 and 1893, ^ several 
times saw my hunting com- 
rade, William Allen, ride on 
his favorite "Spider" right 
into a bunch of Antelope go- 
ing their best and with every- 
thing in their favor. Spider 
was locally known as a racer, 
although only a quarter- 
blood. 
On the Little Missouri I saw 
some first-class greyhounds 
overtake a Mule Deer on the 
level, but fail utterly when it 
came to a buck Antelope. 
These same Dogs could catch 
a Coyote in a very short race. 
I have computed the speed of many other 
animals by counting their bounds to the 
minute and then afterward measuring their 
bounds in the snow, and I have made a num - 
ber of comparative observations from rail- 
way trains and motor cars going at a known 
speed; and above all, I have always kept in 
mind the fact, when on record, that such 
can catch so-and-so in a fair race. The 
mineralogists make a scale of hardness, on 
units, each of which can scratch the one be- 
low it, and be scratched by the one above: 
I have acted on this plan in making my scale 
of swiftness, only for "scratch" I read 
"catch." 
Capt. R. B. Marcy says: "We have had 
several good opportunities since we have 
been upon the plains of witnessing the rela- 
tive speed of the different animals found 
Antelope poses. 
