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. 8. 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 
Todians, 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. 
