NEIGHBORS WITH CLAWS AND HOOFS. 



60 'Twas but the voice of a morning the brightest 



That ever dawned over yon shadowy hills ; t 

 'Twas but the song of all joy that is lightest 

 Sunshine breaking in laughter and trills. 



7. Yain to conjecture the words they are singing ; 



Only by tones can we follow the tune 

 In the full heart of the summer fields ringing, 

 Ringing the rhythmical gladness of June ! 



C. P. Craneh. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

 THE MONARCH OF THE MOUNTAIN. 



1. WHILE in the wilds the lion is lord of the plains, 

 the tiger is sovereign in the jungles, and the jaguar has 

 sway in Amazonian forests, the bear is the undisputed 

 monarch of the mountains and of the cold regions of the 

 North. Wolves hunt in packs and become the terror of 

 frontier settlements, and yet in size, strength, and cour- 

 age, the wolf is greatly inferior to the bear. The bear is 

 found in every part of the world except in Australia, and 

 even there an animal is found, half monkey, half bear. 

 The several species of bears, while differing in size and 

 strength, are much alike in general appearance and habits. 



2. The bear usually has a rough, shaggy coat, massive 

 hind-quarters, a peculiar gait, and a habit of standing erect 

 upon his hind-feet when fighting with an enemy. The 

 clumsy gait is a consequence of his plantigrade structure. 

 The long lower joint of the hind-leg strikes flat upon the 

 ground, and the animal seems to shuffle along rather than 

 to walk. The feet are armed with long, sharp, protruding 



