THE BLACK BEAR. 81 



combativeness to assail any animal that runs on four legs; 

 and of these I do not know any better breed than that pe- 

 culiar to Ireland. Any dogs having a good nose, speed, 

 and activity would do, however, if trained to the business, 

 as they can detect Bruin's strong odor from amidst that of 

 any of the Ferce naturce, and follow it with little trouble, 

 and often with the keenest interest. 



The bear, when cornered by dogs, generally seeks safety 

 in a tree, if it is any way near ; and there it remains in 

 false security until the hunter arrives on the scene and 

 brings it down with a bullet planted in its heart or brain. 



Experienced dogs keep away from the foot of the tree 

 when their master opens fire on " Cuffey ;" and when that 

 individual tumbles to the ground they take excellent care 

 not to go too close, for fear of receiving a blow that would 

 soon end their earthly career. They should, however, be 

 prepared to attack it in the legs and flanks whenever it 

 attempts to escape, else it may prove indifferent to their 

 barking, and attack the hunter with a fierceness by no 

 means agreeable. 



The Indian dogs make good lymers, and few bears es- 

 cape them before being treed, so that a person is almost 

 confident of bagging one, at least, while in their company, 

 if any are aroused. A fifty-calibre Express-rifle is a capital 

 weapon for hunting this animal; but in the woods I prefer 

 a breech - loader carrying a heavy charge of buckshot, as 

 some of that is almost sure of reaching its destination, 

 whereas the bullet is liable to be swerved from its course 

 by the undergrowth. 



Bears, when they are special objects of the chase, should 

 be stalked or hunted up wind, for "Cuffey" — the familiar 

 name for the black bear, as "Old Ephraim" is for the 

 grizzly — is keen of nose and ear, and will be out of the 

 reach of its human enemy long before the latter knows 

 that it is about. To show how sensitive it is in the nose, 

 I may mention an incident that occurred to me in Wash- 

 ington Territory. Coming into Seattle one day from 

 Washington Lake, I rested for a short time in the woods, 



4* 



