14 The Mammals of Colorado 
tains from the valley of the Saskatchewan in North Lat. 53° south- 
wards into Mexico to about Lat. 22°, and from the valley of the 
Missouri in about Lon. 95° west to the Pacific. Nowadays, while 
its range in latitude is much the same, its east and west range is 
greatly restricted, only about half what it was once, and is especially 
irregular to the west. This distribution of course includes both 
forms of the animal; the range of the typical form extends about 
to the Mexican boundary. 
In Colorado it was formerly found all over the plains region east 
of the foothills; in all the large mountain parks, and in such other 
localities as might be suited to it. 
Now it has largely been exterminated, but is still to be found in 
small numbers in most of our plains counties, and there are also a 
few in North, Middle, and South Parks, in the San Luis Valley, and 
possibly in a few other isolated localities in the State. The close 
season which has been enforced on the animals for several years 
past has been beneficial, and their numbers have somewhat increased. 
Habits. — The Antelope was first seen by European eyes 
by the celebrated Spanish explorer Coronado in 1535, who 
speaks of their occurrence in what are now the plains of 
Kansas as "siervos, remendos de bianco" (the stags patched 
with white). It is chiefly an inhabitant of the dry open 
plains, living on the grass, sage, and other herbaceous plants 
which grow in those regions. Where there is water antelope 
drink once a day, but in some of the country frequented by 
them water is absent, and in its place the animal eats the 
large juicy cacti found in such regions, and whose sap 
quenches its thirst. 
The young, which are one or two in number, are born 
in late May or early June; they are kept hidden by the 
mother for a few days, but are soon able to run well, and then 
follow her about, and she often joins others and they go 
in small mixed bands. The rutting season begins sometime 
in September and continues through October. They are 
polygamous, and each buck gathers as large a harem as he 
can, often having to fight other males for the possession of 
his wives. In winter the Pronghorn gathers in bands of all 
