276 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



skeleton. The horses on this occasion were 

 hobbled and picketed; but the general thinks 

 the jaguar frequently catches and destroys wild 

 ones, as well as cattle. The celebrated Bowie 

 caught a splendid mustang horse, on the rump 

 of which were two extensive scars made by the 

 claws of a jaguar or cougar. Such instances, in- 

 deed, are not very rare. 



Capt. J. P. McCown, U. S. A., related the 

 following anecdote to us : — At a camp near the 

 Rio Grande, one night, in the thick, low, level 

 musquit country, when on an expedition after 

 Indians, the captain had killed a beef which was 

 brought into camp from some distance. A fire 

 was made, part of the beef hanging on a tree near 

 it. The horses were picketed around, the men 

 outside forming a circular guard. After some 

 hours of the night had passed, the captain was 

 aroused by the soldier next him saying, " Cap- 

 tain, may I shoot?" and raising himself on his 

 arm, saw a jaguar close to the fire, between him 

 and the beef, and near it, with one fore foot 

 raised, as if disturbed ; it turned its head towards 

 the captain as he ordered the soldier not to fire, 

 lest he should hurt some one on the other side 

 of the camp, and then, seeming to know it was 

 discovered, but without exhibiting any sign of 

 fear, slowly, and with the stealthy, noiseless pace 

 and attitude of a common cat, sneaked off. 



