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HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



exact information ; but sufficient to make the subject 

 interesting, and to satisfy the desire for general in- 

 formation. We shall begin with the animal kingdom. 

 The Grisly Bear, Ursus Ferax, is the largest, most 

 formidable and most ferocious animal in the country 

 — and, indeed, in North America. Numerous and 

 almost incredible stories are related of its great 

 strength and courage. Specimens are to be met with 

 measuring four feet in height, and weighing from five 

 hundred to one thousand pounds. Unlike the other 

 kinds of bear, this species never climbs trees. His 

 habits are solitary, and although a terrible foe to 

 meet, he seldom becomes the aggressor against man. 

 When his favorite flesh is not to be obtained, he will 

 eat vermin, berries, and roots, in digging for which 

 he frequently overturns fallen timber which a yoke of 

 oxen could scarcely move. On account of the imper- 



BLACK BEAR. 



fection of their weapons, the Indians seldom venture 

 to attack this animal ; and whenever one is killed by 

 them, the occasion becomes a matter of great rejoic- 

 ing, and the fortunate victor becomes a man of conse- 



