About  the  thickety  streams  above-mention-
ed, as  well  as  among  the  Cross  Timbers,  the
Uack  hear  is  very  common,  Uvirig  chiefly  upon
acorns  and  other  fruits.  The  grape  vines  and
the  branches  of  the  scrubby  oaks,  and  plum-
bushes,  are  in  some  places  so  torn  and  broken
by  the  4>ear  in  pursuit  of  fruits,  that  a  stranger


826  THE  ANTELOPE.
would  conclude  a  violent  hurricane  had  pass-
ed among  them.
That  species  of  gazelle  known  as  the  anr
telope  is  very  numerous  upon  the  high  plains.
This  beautiful  animal,  though  reckoned  a  link
between  the  deer  and  goat,  is  certainly  much
nearest  the  latter.  It  is  about  ^e  size  and
somewhat  of  the  figure  of  a  large  goat  Its
horns  also  resemble  those  of  the  latter,  being
likewise  persistent ;  but  they  are  more  erect,
and  have  a  short  prong  projecting  in  firont
The  ground  of  this  animal's  color  a  Uttle  re-
sembles that  of  the  common  deer,  but  it  is
variegated  with  a  whitish  section  or  two  on
each  side.
The  antelope  is  most  remarkable  for  its
fleetness:  not  bounding  like  the  deer,  but
skimming  over  the  ground  as  though  upon
skates.  The  fastest  horse  will  rarely  overtake
them.  I  once  witnessed  an  eflfort  to  catch
one  that  had  a  hind-leg  broken,  but  it  far  out-
stripped our  fleetest  'bujQ^o-horse.'  It  is,  there-
fore, too  swif^  to  be  hunted  in  the  chase.  I  have
seen  dogs  run  after  this  animal,  but  they
would  soon  stop  and  turn  about,  apparently
much  ashamed  of  being  left  so  far  behind.
