1048 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



In the Yellowstone Park, I was witness of a quarrel be- 

 tween a Grizzly and a very large Blackbear (the mother of 

 Johnny). The Grizzly, with a blow of his paw, hurled her 

 some sixteen feet against a pine root and ended all her desire 

 for martial glory. Cattlemen everywhere attest that a Grizzly 

 can carry off the carcass of a steer, which means that it can, and 

 does occasionally, drag it half a mile or more. Similar in- 

 stances are on record where the carcass was that of a full-grown 

 Buffalo. The New Mexican cowboys who described to me 

 the scene which I used in the lassoing of " Monarch," said that 

 on that occasion one blow of the Bear's paw disabled a horse. 

 The various incidents of Grizzly strength that are used in my 

 stories of Wahb and Monarch are gathered from life and 

 authenticated by numberless witnesses. 



In addition to its muscular strength, the Grizzly is tenacious 

 of life. It can and will fight with wounds in all non-vital parts, 

 and, for the reason that its vitals are well protected, it is hard to 

 kill. Nevertheless, a shot through the heart will drop it within 

 a few yards, and a shot in the spine or brain will down it 

 finally on the spot. But it will be seen how little chance of 

 success against the Grizzly had the Indian armed with bow and 

 lance, or even with musket and flintlock gun. No wonder, 

 then, that a claw-necklace from a Grizzly of one's own killing 

 was the outward and visible sign of valour extraordinary, and 

 worn with becoming pride. This, it will be remembered, 

 was one of the greatest exploits of the hero Hiawatha. He 

 went to the far Westward, there he clubbed and killed the 

 mighty Mishe-mokwa, and returned with the necklet trophy 

 of claws. 



sANiTA- The species has not gone far in the evolution of sanitation. 



At best it keeps its den clear of excrement. In Colorado, I 

 found that a certain fly propagates in this Bear's dung. The 

 Grizzly is even fonder of a mud-bath than the Blackbear. Its 

 wallows are found wherever the Grizzly roams. They no 

 doubt offer protection from the mosquitoes and also, when hot 

 weather and shedding time arrive together to produce a general 



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