The Grizzly Bear 375 



that he had no time to fire his rifle, but merely held it 

 up over his head as a guard. Of course it was struck 

 down, the claws of the great brute at the same time 

 shattering his skull like an eggshell. Yet the man stag- 

 gered on some ten feet before he fell ; but when he did, he 

 never spoke or moved again. The two others killed the 

 bear after a short, brisk struggle, as he was in the midst 

 of a most determined charge." 



Everybody makes an oversight sometimes, and although 

 this accomplished sportsman and careful writer is very free 

 from the blemishes that usually disfigure observers of wild 

 beasts, there is a slip of the pen here. How did he know 

 this bear was not waiting for the man it killed } Nobody 

 saw it until in the act of striking, and why the brute " nuist 

 have been roused from its lair by his almost stepping upon 

 it " does not appear. There is at least a probability that 

 its acute senses warned it of the approach of a heavy man 

 walking carelessly through brush, and of two others tramp- 

 ing round the cover within forty yards. 



The bear's temper, disposition, and power of offence 

 seem to be underrated with respect to the species at large. 

 Whether because its appearance is less impressive than 

 that of animals which have gathered about them most of 

 the world's gossip, or for any other reason to which this 

 inappreciation may be attributed, both in Europe, Asia, 

 and America, the Ursida; in general have undoubtedly 

 less reputation than they seem to deserve, and less than 

 the deeds they do and have done in all countries would 

 apparently have brought with them as a matter of course. 

 Poorly armed and primitive populations throughout the 



