20 GAME ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



In Oregon and California this Bear is said to be found as far 

 north as the parallel of forty degrees, but to be scarce or not at 

 all known beyond forty-two degrees. Its principal habitat in Ore- 

 gon is in the Klamath Basin, in which are situated the now famous 

 lava beds. It is but little hunted, owing to the sparseness of popu- 

 lation there and the danger of the amusement. The last attempt 

 at a chase resulted disastrously to one of the parties, the Grizzly 

 having overtaken and killed him with one powerful stroke. 



On the Pacific Coast the hunting of the Grizzly is generally con- 

 ducted, where the nature of the ground will permit, on horseback. 

 A pack of mongrel dogs trained for the purpose, are sent through 

 the jungle or thickets where the bears are supposed to be feeding. 

 They soon strike the trail and following it, drive him into open 

 ground, when the nearest hunter gives the signal to the others of 

 the party, who soon come up, and a general fusillade is opened and 

 continued until bruin is killed or disabled. The chase is attended, 

 if the animal be the dreaded Grizzly, with considerable excitement, 

 and no little danger, for " Ephraim " is very nimble and active when 

 aroused, and it takes a mustang of some speed and a rider of skill 

 to evade his onward rushes. A horse unaccustomed to the sight 

 of a bear will become unruly, and throw a poor horseman, who is 

 then at the mercy of the monster. The Grizzly can easily overtake 

 a man on foot, but as it is, unlike the other varieties, unable to 

 climb trees, safety is often sought among the branches. Even 

 then, however, the pursuer keeps the pursued in a state of siege 

 until night, or the timely arrival of his comrades relieves him from 

 his uncomfortable and hazardous position. 



Greasers, Western vernacular for Mexicans, when they can find 

 a Grizzly feeding on open ground, will sometimes capture him with 

 their riatas, one horseman holding him by the head or a fore-leg, 

 while another attends to his hind-legs. While stretched in this 

 way he can easily be bound by others of the party, and is carried in 

 triumph to the village, there to be pitted, at the Vi&yi\. fiesta, against 

 some savage young bull. The operation, however, is not always so 

 successful, and sometimes the bear gets off with half-a-dozen ropes 

 trailing behind him. 



We have met several of these animals throughout the Western 

 States and Territories in a semi-domesticated state, but in no place 



