ZOOLOGY, 109 



coarse, and wiry, and stiff on the top of the neck and between 

 the shoulders. The "grizzly," as he is usually called, is more 

 common in California than any other kind of bear, and was 

 at one time exceedingly numerous for so large an animal ; but 

 he offered so much meat for the hunters, and did so much 

 damage to the farmers, that he has been industriously hunted, 

 and his numbers have been greatly reduced. He ranges 

 throughout the state, but prefers to make his home in the 

 chaparral or bushes, whereas the black bear likes the heavy 

 timber. The grizzly is very tenacious of life, and he is sel- 

 dom immediately killed by a single bullet. His thick, wiry 

 hair, tough skin, heavy coats of fat when in good condition, 

 and large bones, go far to protect his vital organs ; but he 

 often seems to preserve all his strength and acti^dty for an 

 hour or more after having been shot through the lungs and 

 liver with laro^e rifle balls. He is one of the most dangerous 

 animals to attack. There is much probability that when shot 

 he will not be killed outright. TThen merely wounded he is 

 ferocious ; his weight and strength are so great that he bears 

 down all opposition before him; and he is very quick, his 

 speed in running being nearly equal to that of the horse. In 

 attacking a man, he usually rises on his hind-legs, strikes his 

 enemy with one of his powerful fore-paws, and then commences 

 to bite him. If the man lies still, with his face down, the bear 

 will usually content himself xAth. biting him for a while about 

 the arms and legs, and will then go off a few steps and watch 

 him. If the man lies still, the bear will believe him dead, and 

 will soon get tired and go away. But let the man move, and 

 the bear is upon him again ; let him fight, and he will be in im- 

 minent danger of being torn to pieces. About half a dozen 

 men, on an average, are killed yearly in California by grizzly 

 bears, and as many more are cruelly mutilated. 



Fortimately, the grizzly bear is not disposed to attack man, 

 and never makes the first assault unless driven by hunger or 

 maternal anxiety. The dam will attack any man who comes 

 near her cubs, and on this accoimt it is dangerous to go in the 



