RUMINANTIA-CAVICORNIA-ANTI LOG APR A AMERICANA. 
669 
back, except that there is a narrow crescentic patch of white on the throat, just hack of the 
head, the branches extending high up on the sides; helow this is a much narrower and longer 
patch of white, in the shape of an isosceles triangle, the base anterior. This is sometimes 
confluent posteriorly, with the continuous white of the lower throat and belly sometimes sepa¬ 
rated from it. On the back of the neck there is a low, compressed, narrow mane of dusky hairs, 
with a short indistinct light patch on either side back of the ears. The anterior half of the 
upper part and sides of the muzzle are of a uniform dark liver brown, in strong contrast with 
the white of the lips ; there is also a narrow transverse band of the same across the forehead 
just anterior to the horns. The orbits are dusky. There is a dusky patch on the sides of the 
head just below the base of the ears, which is wanting in the female. The horns, hoofs, and 
naked part of the nose are black. 
I am not aware whether the winter specimens of antelopes differ in color or texture of hair 
from the summer; the summer skins do not vary appreciably among themselves. The markings 
are fainter in the female, the dusky patch below the ear being generally entirely wanting. The 
concavity of the ears is whitish, the edges dusky, the back of the ear yellowish brown. 
The young of the species in general have the same markings as tne adults ; the brown of 
a different shade, however. Even in foetal specimens there are no traces of the light spots of 
young deer. 1 
The geographical distribution of the American antelope is pretty well indicated by the list of 
specimens given below. According to Dr. Richardson, it is found as far north as the north 
branch of the Saskatchewan, in latitude 53°. It is spread all over the plains between the 
Missouri river to the Rocky Mountains, and as far west as the Cascade range of California and 
Oregon. To the south, it reaches the Rio Grande at its mouth, and probably extends some 
distance into Mexico, at least throughout the State of Tamaulipas, according to Dr. Berlandier. 
1 The following notice is from Maximilian’s Travels : 
Antilo-pe americana, Max. Reise, I, 1839, 403.— Measurements .—Total length from snout to tip of tail, 4 feet, 10 inches and 8 
lines; tail, lifted up from the rump, 7 inches and 3 lines; head, 11 inches and 4 lines; height, anteriorly, from the outstretched hoo*" 
to the withers, 2 feet, 6 inches and 10 lines; height, posteriorly, measured the same way, 3 feet and 1 inch; height of the horn, 
i n a straight line, 8 inches and 8 lines. I have seen horns which measured 10 inches. The bucks are frequently without the 
end or the anterior furcate process of the horns, especially in the young, and in the females, where the horns have generally 
a length of only from one to two inches, and have the points bent back and a little inwards. The horn of a large buck has been 
considered as a kind of deer (Cervus hamatus ) and figured very accurately. 
