A WAR OF EXTERMINATION. 145 



has considerable resemblance to both, bat, smaller and 

 slighter built than the former, still possesses all its vindic- 

 tiveness of character and powers of vitality, combined with 

 greater activity. 



Although existing chiefly on vegetable diet, it will 

 greedily avail itself of any opportunity that offers, to 

 gorge on flesh ; and to so great an extent has it been 

 known to indulge in gluttony that, on discovery by the 

 hunter, it has been found alike incapable of defence or 

 escape. 



On the first settlement of Oregon and British Columbia 

 the farmers suffered such serious losses among their 

 valuable newly-imported herds of horned cattle and sheep, 

 that a war of extermination was declared against the red 

 bears (as they are frequently there called), which did 

 not terminate in those neighbourhoods till the race 

 had there almost become extinct. In the vicinity of 

 the Carriboo gold mines they now are occasionally to 

 be found, and doubtless will frequent that locality for 

 many years to come, as the surrounding country is very 

 rugged, covered with dense timber, and totally unfit for 

 Cultivation. 



Many and many are the stories I have heard related by 

 trappers and miners in reference to their adventures with 

 these savage animals ; but as one bear story is so much 

 like another I desist here, as my personal knowledge of the 

 species is limited, only adding that I have heard it uni- 

 versally affirmed that the activity of the cinnamon bear 

 makes it a more dangerous foe than even the much-dreaded 

 grizzly. 



10 



