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American Prong-Horn — Part 2
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Like many other animals that habitually associate in flocks, the antelope has in its two white rump patches conspicuous "recognition marks," as they have been termed, by which, according to Wallace's theory, individuals can at a glance recognize their own kind, even though at a considerable distance. The rump patches of the antelope, however, are different from those of other ruminants and are of much more importance to the animal. Ernest Seton-Thompson, writing of this matter in The Century Magazine, says: "Some years ago, while riding across the upland prairie of the Yellowstone, I noticed certain white specks in the far distance. They showed and disappeared several times and then began moving southward. Then, in another direction, I discovered other white specks which also seemed to flash and disappear. A glass showed them to be antelope, but it did not wholly explain the flashing or the moving which ultimately united the two bands. I made note of the fact, but found no explanation until the opportunity came to study the antelope in the Washington Zoo." He goes on to explain how the approach of a dog to the enclosure of the captive animals caused them to elevate the hair all over their rump patches. "The wild antelope habit is to raise the head while grazing to keep a sharp lookout for danger, and these captives kept up the practice of the race. The first that did so saw the dog. It uttered no sound, but gazed at the wolfish-looking intruder and all the long white hairs of the rump patch were raised with a jerk that made the patch flash in the sun like a tin pan. Everyone of the grazing antelopes saw the flash, repeated it instantly and raised his head to gaze in the direction in which the first was gazing. At the same time I noticed on the wind a peculiar musky smell--a smell that certainly came from the antelope." Subsequent investigation showed the presence of a musk gland in the centre of the rump patch and a mass of muscle connected with it and with the bases of the white hairs. This completed the explanation of the whole matter. "As soon as the antelope sees some strange or thrilling object this muscle acts and the rump patch is changed in a flash to a great double disk or twin chrysanthemum of white that shines afar like a patch of snow, but in the middle of each bloom a dark brown spot, the musk gland is exposed and a great quantity of the odor is set free and the message is read by all those who have noses to read. Of all animals man has the poorest nose, he has virtually lost the sense of smell, while among the next animals in the scale scent is their best faculty. Yet even man can distinguish the danger scent for many yards down the wind and there is no reason to doubt that antelope can detect it a mile away. Thus the observations on the captive animals living under normal conditions proved the key to those made on the plains and I know not that the changing flashes in the Yellowstone upland were made by the antelopes' heliograph, while the two bands signalled each other; and the smaller band on getting the musky message `Friend' laid aside all precaution and fearlessly joined their relatives."