GRIZZLY BEAR.—Ursus ferox. 
It is generally supposed that the Grizzly Bear is unable to ascend trees, but it 1s now 
ascertained that the animal is quite an adept in tree-climbing, and makes use of the 
scandent art for the purpose of supplying itself with a bountiful and leisurely repast. 
As the Bear is very fond of acorns, and does not choose to gather them separately from 
the branches on which they grow, it ascends the trees, and with its powerful fore-limbs 
administers such severe blows and shakings to the boughs that the ripe acorns shower 
down like hail to the earth, whither the ingenious animal speedily descends in order to 
reap the benefit of its exertions. Yet it is frequently found that a man who has been 
chased by a Grizzly Bear has succeeded in saving his life by ascending a tree which the 
Bear has made repeated but ineffectual efforts to climb. The two accounts may be 
reconciled by the supposition that while the Bear is young, and comparatively agile in 
proportion to its weight, it is capable of ascending a perpendicular tree-trunk ; but that 
when it becomes large and unwieldy, its limbs are not sufficiently powerful, to raise 
so great a weight from the earth by so slight a hold as that which is afforded by the 
claws as they affix themselves to the rough bark. 
The colour of the Grizzly Bear is extremely variable, so much so, indeed, that some 
zoologists have suggested the existence of two distinct species. Sometimes the colour of 
the fur is a dullish brown, plentifully flecked with grizzled hairs, and in other specimens 
the entire fur is of a beautiful steely grey. In every case, however, these grizzled hairs 
are very conspicuous, so that there appears to be a certain tendency to whiteness in the 
surface of the fur, From this peculiarity, the specific title of “candescens,” or whitish, 
Ih. DD 
