BEASTS OF PREY. 84T 



United States Dragoons, purporting to give a description of the the (mjfdlo 

 grass common to the grand prairie. Tliis grnss was represented as grow 

 ing six or eigiit inches high, and as being abundant n tiie mountains, par- 

 ticularly of New Mexico, wliere (if I rightly remember) it was said it re- 

 mained green the entire winter. Tlie truth of the matter is, bujfalo g*'ats 

 very rarely exceeds two and never attains Jour inches in height, — is not 

 found in the mountains at all, so far as my observation has extended, and 

 is green only about one month in the year ! 



By the way, speaking of grass reminds me of a remarkable characteristic 

 in some varieties indigenous to tliis country, and wliich will afford matter 

 of speculation to tlie inquiring mind. The blade, killed by tlie frost of 

 winter, is resuscitated in the spring and gradually becomes green from the 

 root up, without casting its stubble or emitting new shoots ! 



The skins obtained during my hunt found a ready sale, at prices ranging 

 from one to three dollars each, according their to quality and conditioo. 

 These articles were in great demand for the manufacture of clotliing among 

 the Fort hands, and are considered far preferable to cloth. 



Nov. lOlh. I again returned to the mountains, heading a small par^ 

 that insisted upon bearing me company. Late in tlie afternoon of the se- 

 cond day we made camp in a valley, behind the first ridge of hills, upon 

 the right hand fork of Soublet's creek. 



An incident en route afforded some httle amusement at the time. We 

 had left the Fort without provisions, and I accordingly proceeded a short 

 distance in advance fcr the purpose of killing antelope. Riding slowly on, 

 I noticed a badger not far aiiead, and dismounted to shoot him. But the 

 creature becoming alarmed sprang for his hole, and I hastened to stop 

 him. Tills I effected by tightly grasping his tail as he was in the very 

 act of entering his burrow. In the chase ray rifle had accidentally dis- 

 charged itself, and here commenced a struggle "between me and the badger 

 — I to retain my hold while I unbelted my pistol to dispatch him, and he to 

 enforce his liberty. At length I succeeded, and a choice supper was made 

 from his carcase, v/hich, to all intents, was the fattest thing I ever saw. 



We remained encamped at the place above named for some six weeks, 

 and devoted the interval principally to hunting sheep, of which there 

 were vast numbers in the neighborhood. In attestation of the monstroui 

 horns borne by some of them, I need only mention the simple fact of my 

 having killed three sheep while here whose horns measured nineteen 

 inches in circumference, and nearly three feet in length. 



One of our party encountered a strange looking animal in his excur- 

 sions, which, from his description, must have been of the leopard family. 

 This circumstance is the more remarkable, as leopards are rarely found 

 except in southern latitudes. However, they are not unfrequently met 

 with in some parts of the Cumancne country, and their skins furnieh te 

 the natives a favorite material for airow-cases. 



The only beast of prey other than wolves, encountered during th« 

 entire winter, was a solitary panther, whose extreme ehynesg deAed alt 

 attempt* to approach within shooting distance 



