BEAUTIFUL SCENEEY IN WISCONSIN. 149 



At the same time, exceptions, more particularly among 

 those of the North-western States, are to be foimd which 

 are black to the nostrils. 



As a general rule, when this bear is in a state of nature, 

 he is extremely timorous of man, flying from him with a 

 stealth and rapidity almost marvellous ; but wound him, 

 hurt him, even insult his dignity, and the huntsman must 

 be prepared for a conflict that will only terminate in 

 death ; for, once enraged and drawn into hostilities, his 

 combativeness increases, never lessening till life is extinct. 

 However, instances have been known where Bruir* .^as not 

 had these excuses for becoming aggressor ; bm, generally 

 these bellicose individuals have been an old lady engaged 

 in imparting to her progeny her extensive knowledge of the 

 world, some gallant lover worshipping at the shrine of his 

 devotion, or possibly a half-starved unfortunate desirous of 

 gaining some retreat where appetite could be gratified. 



The first bear I ever shot was doubtless suffering from 

 the last. I will narrate the circumstance. In the State 

 of Wisconsin, near Green River, there are situated some 

 beautiful retired sheets of water. These spots had long 

 enchanted me with their attractiveness, for game abounded 

 in their vicinity ; the scenery was beautiful, and, above all, 

 you were entirely free from man's intrusion. Could it be 

 wondered, then, that seldom a week passed that I did not 

 find time to visit them ? Summer had unconsciously 

 glided into autumn, the dark, dense covering of the trees 

 had changed to all the gaudy hues of the rainbow, and the 

 enlarged ripples on the water, and occasional sighings of 

 the wind, predicted that at no distant period another 



