URSUS AMERICANUS. jOi 



wliich I have nnsclf seen, was also a hole dug- into the side of a 

 knoll, and its presence was betrayed by the young- who were playing 

 outside and did not know enough to hide away at the approach of 

 man. In this case also the old Bear was unable to get out and was 

 easily killed. 



While hunting. June lo. 1878, Dr. C. L. Bagg and the writer fol- 

 lowed the old trail from Fourth Lake across Eagle Creek in the di- 

 rection of John's Lake. In exploring a hardwood ridge a little to 

 the north of the regular course we were suddenly surprised b}- 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- o-rounds. 

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

 colored 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. Bring- 

 ing my gun (loaded only with Xo. 4 shot) hastil\- to my shoulder I 

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

 babydike, sobbing cr\' that lasted for nearh' 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 ver\- thin, weighing but ten pounds (4536 grams), 

 and had evidently been lost from its mother for some time. Its 

 stomach contained nothing but beech-nuts, and beech-nuts that have 

 lain on the ground all winter, and are still fit to eat in lune. are cer- 

 tainly few and far between. 



In traversing unfrequented portions of the Wilderness one occa- 

 sionally meets with a tree whose bark has been scratched and torn, 

 at some little height from the ground, in a manner that cannot fail 

 to excite his attention and surprise. This is the work of the Bear, 



