!>' THE PIGMY ANTELOPE. 
I HE Pigmy Antelopes present 
4 I examples of singular members 
q)m of the family, in that they are 
of exceedingly diminutive 
size, the smallest being no larger than 
a large Rat, dainty creatures indeed. 
The Pigmy is an inhabitant of South 
Africa, and its habits are said to be 
quite similar to those of its brother of 
the western portion of North America. 
The Antelope is a very wary ani- 
mal, but the sentiment of curiosity is 
implanted so strongly in its nature 
that it often leads it to reconnoitre too 
closely some object which it cannot 
clearly make out, and its investigations 
are pursued until "the dire answer to 
all inquiries is given by the sharp 
'spang' of the rifle and the answering 
'spat' as the ball strikes the beautiful 
creatures flank." The Pigmy Ante- 
lope is not hunted, however, as is its 
larger congener, and may be consid- 
ered rather as a diminutive curiosity 
of Natures' delicate workmanship than 
as the legitimate prey of man. 
BIRDS OF ALASKA. 
No sooner had the twilight settled 
over the island than new bird voices 
called from the hills about us. The 
birds of the day were at rest, and their 
place was filled with the night denizens 
of the island. They came from the 
dark recesses of the forests, first single 
stragglers, increased by midnight to a 
stream of eager birds, passing to and 
fro from the sea. Many, attracted by 
the glow of the burning logs, altered 
their course and circled about the fire 
a few times and then sped on. From 
their notes we identified the principal 
night prowlers as the Cassin's Auklet, 
Rhinoceros Auk, Murrelet, and varieties 
of Petrel. All through the night our 
slumbers were frequently disturbed by 
birds alighting on the sides of the tent, 
slipping down with great scratching 
into the grass below, where our 
excited Dog took a hand in the 
matter, daylight often finding our 
tent strewn with birds he had 
captured during the night. When he 
found time to sleep I do not know. 
PSg He was after birds the entire twenty- 
>$' four hours. 
* w • In climbing over the hills of the 
island we discovered the retreats of 
these night birds, the soil everywhere 
through the deep wood being fairly 
honeycombed with their nesting 
burrows. The larger tunnels of the 
Rhinoceros Auks were, as a rule, on 
the slopes of the hill, while the little 
burrows of the Cassin's Auklet were 
on top in the flat places. We opened 
many of their queer abodes that ran 
back with many turns to a distance of 
ten feet or more. One or both birds 
were invariably found at the end, 
covering their single egg, for this 
species, like many other sea birds, 
divide the duties of incubation, both 
sexes doing an equal share, relieving 
each other at night. 
The Puffins nested in burrows also, 
but lower down — often just above the 
surf. One must be very careful, 
indeed, how he thrusts his hand into 
their dark dens, for should the old 
bird chance to be at home, its vise-like 
bill can inflict a very painful wound. 
The rookeries of the Murres and 
Cormorants were on the sides of steep 
cliffs overhanging the sea. Looking 
down from above, hundreds of eggs 
could be seen, gathered along the 
narrow shelves and chinks in the 
rocks, but accessible only by means of 
a rope from the top. — Outing. 
95 
