THE BLACK BEAR. 45 



weighed was in Maine, and tipped the scale at 

 346 pounds ; but I have a perfectly authentic 

 record of one in Maine that weighed 397, and 

 my friend, Dr. Hart Merriam, tells me that he 

 has seen several in the Adirondacks that when 

 killed weighed about 350. 



I have myself shot but one or two black 

 bears, and these were obtained under circum- 

 stances of no special interest, as I merely 

 stumbled on them while after other game, and 

 killed them before they had a chance either 

 to run or show fight. 



