1072 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



"While hunting, June lo, 1878, Dr. C. L. Bagg and the 

 writer followed the old trail from Fourth Lake across Eagle 

 Creek in the direction of John's Lake. In exploring a hard- 

 wood ridge a little to the north of the regular course, we were 

 suddenly surprised by a loud and peculiar cry with which we 

 were both unacquainted. It came from the direction of a 

 dense balsam swamp below, and somewhat resembled the 

 squealing of a pig, while at the same time it suggested the noise 

 made by the Great Blue Heron when on its nesting grounds. 

 As the cry was repeated. Dr. Bagg imitated it, and suc- 

 ceeded so well that we soon perceived it to be coming nearer. 

 Fearing that it might change its course, I ran down the hill, 

 and soon saw a dark-coloured animal, about the size of a 

 Raccoon, emerge from the swamp and jump upon a log, 

 rushing headlong in the direction towards Dr. Bagg, and 

 squealing at brief intervals as if in great distress. Bringing my 

 gun (loaded only with No. 4 shot) hastily to my shoulder, I 

 fired, and the report was followed by a shriek of pain and 

 plaintive baby-like sobbing cry that lasted for nearly a minute. 

 On reaching the spot the animal was found to be a cub Bear, 

 and was then quite dead, one of the shot having passed through 

 both ventricles of the heart. It was very thin, weighed but 10 

 pounds (4,536 grams), and had evidently been lost from its 

 mother for some time. Its stomach contained nothing but beech- 

 nuts, and beechnuts that have lain on the ground all winter, 

 and are still fit to eat in June, are certainly few and far between." 



Another peep into the pathetic side of the Bear's life is 

 afforded by a letter that I recently received from a little girl 

 in Salmon, Idaho:-" 



"Jim Winn, an old trapper and hunter here in the valley, 

 said that one time he went out hunting, and when he was eating 

 his lunch he heard an awful running and snorting down the hill 

 where his horse was, so when he looked around he saw a little 

 tiny baby Bear trying to catch the horse. He said that he 

 shot at it and hit it in the neck, but did not kill it. He said it 

 cried so pitifully that he was sorry he shot it. Pretty soon the 



" Personal letter. 



