The Grizzly Bear 363 



portant subject of their training, the length of time during 

 which they are under tutelage, or the degree to which tender- 

 ness and solicitude are developed in females of this species 

 by maternity. A tigress robbed of her young has become a 

 familiar simile for expressing desperation and inappeasable 

 anger, but it has little foundation in truth, and many 

 reports to the same effect in this animal's case, appear 

 upon a wide survey of the evidence to be equally doubtful. 

 Colonel R. I. Dodge ("Plains of the Great West") most 

 likely comes as near the truth as it is possible for any one 

 to do in the present state of knowledge, when he remarks 

 that although a she-bear will often fight desperately in 

 defence of her cubs, it is just as probable that they may 

 be abandoned to their fate if the mother supposes herself 

 to be in danger. 



As might be imagined, grizzly bears can, for the most 

 part, only be got the better of by being killed. They are 

 occasionally trapped, however. The instrument is an 

 ordinary toothed spring trap, to which a log is attached by 

 a chain. When sprung it is impossible either to break or 

 unloose it, and the furious animal goes off with the entire 

 apparatus, but is much hampered by this encumbrance, 

 and leaves a trail as easily followed as a turnpike. 



Of necessity such a beast of prey as this has gathered 

 around it a perfect fog of superstitions, traditions, false 

 beliefs, and incredible stories. The author is familiar with 

 the scenes in which most of these exploits and wonders 

 are said to have been wrought, as well as with the men 

 who relate and oftentimes believe them. As a class, they 

 are not perhaps greatly superior in culture and mental 



