148 WILD BEASTS OF THE WORLD 



years, but seldom breed, like Bears generally. A disposition to be surly 

 and treacherous is also very marked in the Bear family, which are, if any- 

 thing, more dangerous than the large Cats in menageries. " Dancing " 

 Bears are far less common in our streets than formerly, and of course 

 the cruel sport of Bear-baiting has long been extinct, though, from the 

 frequent allusions to it in Shakespeare and other authors, it must have 

 been one of the most cherished recreations of our forefathers. 



THE GRIZZLY BEAR 



(Ursus korribilis) 



ALTHOUGH it is scarcely more than a local race of the Brown Bear, the 

 Grizzly Bear of the Western States of America has such a reputation that 

 it deserves the dignity of a separate heading. It is larger than any of 

 the Brown Bears except the Alaskan race, with a straighter profile and 

 enormous claws on the fore-feet ; its coat also is shorter, but not particularly 

 grey, the name being properly " Grisly," and referring to the animal's 

 reputation for peculiar ferocity. This used to be well deserved enough, 

 but what with constant persecution and the improvement in fire-arms, 

 the Grizzly is not the formidable foe he used to be, and generally avoids 

 a conflict wherever possible. He has also ceased to frequent the prairies, 

 and keeps to the mountains and woods where he has not been extermi- 

 nated. This Bear differs from most others in not climbing trees at any 

 rate when adult and it also has particularly carnivorous tastes. In 

 spite, however, of its enormous power, which enables it to deal such blows 

 with terrible fore-paws as to tear away several ribs from a Bullock's spine 

 with a blow, it uses this very largely to turn over stones in search of 

 Mice and such small prey, and has the usual bearish love of fruit. In 

 some places it is found alongside of the smaller and commoner Black 

 Bear of America, but the latter takes care to avoid encounters with 

 this terrible enemy. The Puma, however, is said not to fear it, and 

 even to attack and defeat it, relying on its own great agility. 



