The Grizzly Bear, — Ursus Ferox. 105 



Black Bear. The head is short and round, the nose bare ; ears small ; legs 

 stout, and body large. The tail is very short, the feet large, and the claws 

 very long, while those of the Black Bear are short. Eight hundred pounds 

 is said to be the weight of an average specimen. The length of the fore- 

 foot of a Grizzly Bear, killed in the Rocky Mountains, exceeded 9 inches, 

 that of the hind foot 11% inches, and the breadth 7 inches. In one 

 individual the claws of the fore feet measured G inches in length. The 

 colour is variable, generally dark brown, tipped with white. The strength 

 of the animal is amazing. It is said that he drags the carcass of a buffalo, 

 weighing one thousand pounds, with ease across the prairie. Its activity is 

 also very great, although it cannot 'climb trees like the black bear. Their 

 food consists of wild fruits, roots and flesh. They sometimes seize upon 

 wounded animals, such as deer or buffaloes, and having eaten part, bury 

 the rest for future use. The following accounts of this animal are given by 

 various authors : — 



" This bear, justly considered as the most dreadful and dangerous of 

 North American quadrupeds, is the despotic and sanguinary monarch of 

 the wilds over which he ranges. Gigantic in size and terrific in aspect, he 

 unites to a ferociously blood-thirsty disposition a surpassing strength of 

 limb, which gives him undisputed supremacy over every other quadruped 

 tenant of the wilderness, and causes man himself to tremble at his approach, 

 though possessed of defensive weapons unknown to any but the human race. 

 To the Indians the very name of the Grizzly Bear is dreadful, and the killing 

 of one^is esteemed equal to a great victory : — the white hunters are almost 

 always willing to avoid an encounter with so powerful an adversary, and 

 seldom or never wantonly provoke his anger. 



" This formidable bear unhesitatingly pursues and attacks men or animals, 

 when excited by hunger, or passion, and slaughters indiscriminately every 

 creature whose speed or artifice is not sufficient to place them beyond his 

 reach. The Bison, whose size and imposing appearance might seem to be a 

 sufficient protection, does not always elude his grasp, as the grizzly bear is 

 strong enough to overpower this animal, and drag its carcass to a convenient 

 place to be deposited and devoured at leisure. 



" However singular it may appear that an animal endowed with such a 

 fondness for destruction and blood, can exist altogether on vegetable food, it 

 is a fact that the grizzly bear, no less than all other species belonging to the 

 same genus, is capable of subsisting exclusively on roots and fruits : this may 

 be inferred from the peculiarities of their system of dentition. It is by no 

 means surprising that hunters and travellers should suppose the grizzly bear 

 to be almost wholly carnivorous, seeing that he displays such an unappeas- 

 able ferocity of disposition, and so uniform an eagerness to destroy the life of 

 any animal that falls within his power. 



" This bear at present inhabits the country adjacent to the eastern side 

 of the Rocky Mountains, where it frequents the plains, or resides in the copse,=5 

 of wood which skirt along the margin of water courses. There is some rea- 

 son to believe that the grizzly bear once inhabited the Atlantic regions oi' 



