PRONGBUCK, or PRONGHORN, the American pronghorned goat-antelope (Antilo copra americana), one of the two sole living representatives on the American continent of the large series of Old World antelopes (Bo vicke). the other being the Rocky Mountain goat (Oreatnnos mentions:), which is more nearly a true antelope than a goat. Although almost universally known as the differs so greatly from the true ante . that it is made the type of a distinct family (Antilocapride), having alike with the giraffes, deer and goats. The horns, while resembling those of the true antelopes and the Bovida generally in consisting of a bone-core covered by a horny sheath, differ from those of all Bovide in the presence of a short anterior spur or branch. Furthermore, they are more or less densely and extensively covered with hair, thus resembling the horns of the giraffe. But by far the most remarkable peculiarity of these horns is that they are shed annually like a deer's antlers. So skeptical were zoologists as to the possibility of a hollow-horned ruminant shed ding its horns, that, although the fact was known to hunters for many years and had been repeatedly reported, it was not until 1865 to 1868 that the truth of these reports became fully established. The entire horn is not shed as in the case • of deer, but only the horny sheath, the bony core intact and per manent and its epidermal covering immediately beginning to regenerate a new horn.
The pronghorn is about three feet high and five feet long, with a very short tail, slender legs, pointed, erect ears and extremely large eyes. Two important characteristics are the absence of the small accessory hoofs from both fore and hind feet and the hairiness of the end of the muzzle except along a narrow median line. The color is a variable and somewhat mottled brown, with a chestnut colored mane and a brilliant white rump patch or so-called recognition mark. Both sexes have horns; but those of the female and young are smaller and simple. Since the disappearance of the bison, the prongbuck is the most characteristic rumi nant animal of the great Western plains. Al though the progress of settlement has much diminished its numbers and reduced the limits of its range both easterly and westerly, the prongbuck still holds its own over an area ex tending for about 30 degrees from Saskatche wan on the north to the Mexican state of Zacatecas on the south, and from the Dakotas and Kansas westward through the Rocky Mountains and in the Cascades into Oregon.
It occurs in Arizona and at a few points in California, but is absent from large areas in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. Prongbucks live in bands on the open plains or in the hilly countries; bucks, does and fawns associating during the greater part of the year, but at the close of the gestation period, whici varies from March to September, according to latitude, the pregnant does separate to drop their two fawns in solitude, and the old bucks wander into the wooded hills. Their natural food consists almost entirely of grass, though grain, apples, etc., will be eaten in captivity. They are wonderfully alert animals, with keen senses, and so timid that they retreat on the slightest alarm, but withal so curious that they soon pause to gaze at the cause of their alarm. Their speed is marvelous, and their bounds of tremendous extent, but their power of en durance is not great and they never leap over an obstacle of any height. They may be domes ticated with comparative ease and sometimes breed in captivity; and it is said that a fence of only three or four feet high is quite sufficient to confine them. Owing to the excellence of their flesh, though it is rather dry, and their splendid game qualities, they are much sought by hunters. The methods most in vogue are coursing with grey or deer hounds, running with relays of horses, and stalking, the latter especially requiring much skill, though they may be lured toward the concealed hunter by an appeal, by means of a fluttering colored cloth or handkerchief, to their inordinate curiosity. The Indians hunted them by stalking, some times dressed in the skin of one of their kind; by driving them into brush enclosures, over which they would not leap; and in other ways. Consult Canfield (in (Proceedings of the Zoo logical Society,' London 1866) ; Caton, 'Ante lope and Deer of America) (Boston 1:•:1) Lvddeker, Richard, 'Royal Natural History' (Vol. I, London 1895) ; Roosevelt, Theodore, 'American Big Game Hunting) (New York 1901) and 'The Deer Family) (New York 1902) ; Seton, E. T., 'Life Histories of North ern Animals) (ib. 1909).