248 



SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



is a tendency on the part of the offspring to inherit tlie peculiarities of the parent." 

 Under this theory the bears that stay out are killed, while the ones that hole 

 are left to become the parents of the next generation. In this way a tendency 

 that proves protective is soon developed into an instinct that becomes universal. 



Rears are great travelers. During the autumn they roam over large tracts of 

 country, and arc frequently seen and sometimes killed when on these expeditions. 

 The family to which the following incident refers were evidently on such a trip. 

 On September 9, 1899, Mrs. Chahoon and I went for a little drive, hoping to get a 

 couple of partridges ere returning. We left our home in Ausable Forks in a single 

 carriage, taking with us our little bird dog " Bounce," and a 12-gauge shot gun. 

 While going tlu'ough a swamp near the Middle Kilns on the road to Saranac Lake, 



BOUNCE, THE BEAR DOG. 



Mrs. Chahoon driving and I holding the gun cocked and ready for a quick shot at a 

 bird, about thirty yards in front of us four bears came into the road, looked at us 

 for an instant and then ran on ahead. Bounce, the dog, gave chase and was close to 

 the bears as they turned to enter the woods on the opposite side of the road. This 

 was fun for Bounce, and we sat laughing at his audacity, when soon we saw a pro- 

 cession of dog and bears coming towards us, the dog leading and the larger, older 

 bear in close pursuit and clearly shortening the distance between them as they 

 neared us. Don, our horse, not liking this style of a hunt, started to go home back- 

 wards ; but fortunately did not succeed in overturning us, only so placed the carriage 

 as to give the dog and bears a narrow passage as they ran by. The dog had 



