Grizzly-bear 1047 



deeply worn. In going up a bank or over logs, it will put its 

 feet into the same tracks each time till they become a kind of 

 a stairway. The bear-trails in the Bitterroot that are described 

 in the Blackbear chapter were undoubtedly made in part by 

 the numerous Grizzlies that came each year to hook out the 

 running salmon. 



It is a remarkable fact that though all animals make and 

 use trails more or less, it is only those of the lower order, such as 

 rodents, that take the trouble to repair or improve their trails. 

 If a tree branch falls across a Rabbit or Beaver trail, it is cut 

 in two; if a twig grows up, it is nipped off. But the Bear, the 

 Wapiti, and the Buffalo take no such trouble. If mere wear 

 will improve their highway, it is improved, but if a tree fall 

 across it or a self-rolled stone should block it, the lazy giant 

 goes round the balk and strikes out a second trail. 



Those who form their idea of a Bear's speed from watching speed 

 a hulking, slouching prisoner, are sure to be amazed at the real 

 thing. For 50 or 100 yards a Grizzly can go as fast as a good 

 horse, and in rough country it can go faster than any horse and 

 keep it up indefinitely. It is well known that in the spring of 

 the year the Indian ponies that have wintered out and are poor, 

 very commonly become the prey of the Grizzly, who can now 

 catch them on the open plain. Townsend-' tells of a wounded 

 Grizzly that pursued closely a man on horseback, for half a 

 mile, snapping at the horse's heels, and apparently would have 

 captured the object of his wrath but for a timely volley from the 

 man's comrades. 



In view of this, it will be seen how absurd it is for any man 

 to think he may escape from a Grizzly by simply running. 



This species is a good swimmer, but seems less ready to swim- 



MING 



take to the water than is the Blackbear. 



The strength of a Grizzly-bear is as might be expected strength 

 from its weight. 



" Nar. Joum. Rocky Mts., 1839, p. 68. 



