32 WILD HOUSES OF AMERICA. 



maneuver does not force the bears, tigers, or mountain lions to 

 make a precipitate retreat. 



The large herds generally composed of several thousand 

 individuals, divide themselves into many families, each of 

 which is formed of a male and a certain number of mares and 

 foals that follow and obey the male with docility. The chief 

 horse is exclusive sultan, all the mares belong to him by right 

 of force, and woe to the foolhardy one that disputes with him 

 his seraglio and authority ; he defies him, fights him, makes 

 him retire, and sometimes makes him pay for his audacity by 

 the loss of his life. 



Often the conqueror pardons his foe but might not be so 

 generous could he foresee that his vanquished enemy was only 

 going to wait until age had given him greater force and 

 courage to renew the combat. 



. Males frequently have fierce contest for the supremacy, and 

 males that have contended unsuccessfully are often driven off 

 to a solitary life. On the appearance of danger, the chief 

 stallion of a small herd seems to direct the movements of all, 

 and even the larger herds — numbering in some instances thou- 

 sands — seem instinctively to move in concert, so that when 

 they are assailed the stronger animals oppose the enemy and 

 protect the younger and weaker. Even hungry wolves when 

 in packs attack with success only weakened stragglers, and 

 even the jaguar is repelled. 



In fighting, horses either raise themselves on their hind feet 

 and bring down their fore feet with great force on the enemy,. 

 or, wheeling about, kick violently with the hind feet. The 

 teeth are also used as powerful weapons of warfare. 



When the chief becomes old and loses his vigor he then 

 succumbs under the kicks and blows of his rival or dies from 

 misery and shame; and thus, "the survival of the fittest" is- 

 continually perpetuated. 



Those American "Wild Horses known by the name of Mus- 

 tangs, Bronchos, and Indian Ponies, as has been stated, are 

 direct descendants of the Spanish breed of horses and, un- 



