FERAL HORSES. 177 



gregate in thousands, where the influence of a leader 

 cannot act in a similar manner, or the stallions 

 effect more than keeping some of their immediate 

 family together, while of the larger felinae, the ja- 

 guar and the puma only are dangerous to horses ; 

 both being tree-climbing carnivora, they seldom 

 roam far from the woods or venture on the plains, 

 where the thunder of horses' hoofs is sufficiently 

 terrific to frighten bolder animals ; and with regard 

 to the red wolf, our Chrysocyon julatus, he is soli- 

 tary, and usually satisfied with much smaller prey ; 

 hence, being more disturbed by man, and less obliged 

 to watch predaceous animals, their instincts are less 

 matured, their eyesight less piercing, and though 

 by the qualities of their olfactory powers they can 

 make the nicest distinctions, their nostrils do not 

 detect the jaguar at a small distance. The im- 

 pulses of fear they receive are always caused by the 

 first stallion that happens to be impressed with dan- 

 ger : if a carnivorous animal is detected, they crowd 

 together, and then the stallions rush forward to 

 trample him to death; but the mares strike out 

 with the heels, and although they are more timid, 

 do not evince the same fear at the sight of man ; 

 the males alone being chosen by him for service, 

 and subject to the hardest usage ; they yet approach 

 travellers, call to their captive brethren toiling un- 

 der the weight of riders, then toss their heads, and, 

 looking askance, canter away with their heads and 

 tails raised ; while the mares, unconscious of dan- 

 ger, look on with surprise at the jaded look of the 



