SKINNER — THE PRONG-HORN 
95 
as the snow-line changes and uncovers more or less ungrazed forage. 
In spite of their warm coats, these animals are susceptible to changes in 
temperature and are prone to seek shelter, especially from cold north 
winds. On the other hand, they do not seek shelter in summer from 
the blazing sunlight. In common with many other animals, they have 
some sense of foretelling weather changes and when we observe a certain 
nervousness and uneasiness in the prong-horn bands, we have learned 
to look confidently for a storm in a day or two. 
As with all animals, there are erratic individuals in the antelope 
herds. A few stay all summer on the lower ranges, and one winter 
was notable for the successful stay of a small buck in the willows along 
the Lamar, where he subsisted on hay spread each day in the buffalo 
pasture at the Buffalo Ranch. 
The migrating bands of the old days on the great plains numbered 
prong-horns by the thousands and those on the northern plains regularly 
moved south with the first fall of snow. But by the beginning of the 
twentieth century their numbers had fallen to such an extent, and the 
individuals had scattered so far, that large herds could gather no longer. 
The prong-horn has a wonderful eyesight. As Geo. W. Wingate 
says, ‘Hhe hunter must never assume that any antelope he sees, even 
with a glass, is not watching his movements.’^ Not only is the eye 
large, but it is placed on the side of the head in a prominent place so 
that it indeed seems ‘‘that they can look out of the back of their heads.’ ^ 
Personally I have had animals a half to three-quarters of a mile away 
see me the instant I moved an inch. Timid and suspicious as they 
are, they are liable to panic, and will dance up and down; but when once 
started they are very fleet for a short distance. Unless in good condi- 
tion, they may then become fatigued. When going slowly, they walk 
or trot, at times making use of a gait consisting of a series of stiff- 
legged bounds; but when in a hurry, they run, hugging the ground 
closely and using every available ounce of strength to accomplish 
distance. So amazing is their speed, even faster than the deer’s, that 
it is frequently said that “them antelope have sure stampeded.” With 
first-class greyhounds and good horses prong-horns can sometimes be 
run down, but without these dogs the best a good horseman can do 
is to get within two or three hundred yards. The average breed of 
dogs stand little chance, even when hunting in packs, for the antelopes 
usually run away from them. Prong-horns, when once started, are 
very loath to change their course so that it is often possible to dash 
quite close to them by darting ahead at an angle towards their line of 
