272 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



Like the cougar and the wild cat, lie seeks for 

 the peccary, tlie skunk, opossum, and the smaller 

 rodentia; but is fond of attacking tlie larger 

 quadrupeds, giving the preference to mustangs 

 or horses, mules, or cattle. The colts and calves 

 especially afford him an easy prey, and form 

 a most important item in the grand result of his 

 predatory expeditions. 



Like the lion and tiger, he accomplishes by 

 stealth or stratagem what could not be effected 

 by his swiftness of foot, and does not, like the 

 untiring wolf, pursue his prey with indomitable 

 perseverance at top speed for hours together, 

 although he will sneak after a man or any other 

 prey for half a day at a time, or hang on the 

 skirts of a party for a considerable period, watch- 

 ing for an opportunity of springing upon some 

 person or animal in the train. 



Col. Hays and several other officers of the 

 rangers, at the time J. W. Audubon was at San 

 Antonio de Bexar, in 1845, informed him that 

 the jaguar was most frequently found about the 

 watering-places of the mustangs, or wild horses, 

 and deer. It has been seen to spring upon the 

 former, and from time to time kills one ; but it 

 is much more in the habit of attacking colts 

 about six months old, which it masters with 

 great case. Col. Hays had killed four jaguars 

 during his stay in Texas. These animals are 



