WESTERN WILD SPORTS. 187 



gantic in size and terrific in aspect, he unites to a ferociously 

 Ijlood-thirsty disposition, a surpassing strength of limb, which 

 gives him undisputed supremacy over every other quadruped 

 tenant of the wilderness, and. causes man himself to tremble at 

 his approach, though possessed of weapons unknown to any but 

 the human race. To the Indians the very name of Grizzly 

 Bear is dreadful, and the kiUing of one is esteemed equal to a 

 gi-eat victory ; the white hunters are almost always willing to 

 avoid an encounter with so powerful an adversary, and seldom 

 or never wantonly provoke his anger. 



" This formidable animal unhesitatingly pursues and attacks 

 men or animals, when excited by hunger or passion, and slaugh- 

 ters indiscriminately every creature whose speed or artifice is 

 not sufficient to place them beyond his reach. 



" However singular it may appear that an animal endowed 

 with such a fondness for destruction and blood, can exist alto- 

 gether on vegetable food, it is a fact that the Grizzly Bear, no 

 less than all other species belonging to the same genus, is ca- 

 pable of subsisting exclusively on roots and fruits ; this may be 

 inferred from the peculiarity of their dentition. It is by no 

 means surprising that hunters and travellers should suppose the 

 Grizzly Bear to be almost wholly carnivorous, seeing that he 

 displays such an unappeasable ferocity of disposition, and so 

 uniform an eagerness to destroy the life of any animal that falls 

 within his power. 



" This Bear at present inhabits the countiy adjacent to the 

 eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, where it frequents the 

 plains, or resides in the copses of wood which skirt along the 

 margin of water courses. There is some reason to believe that 

 the Grizzly Bear ftnce inhabited the Atlantic regions of the 

 United States, if we may be allowed to form any inference from 

 traditions existing among the Delaware Indians, relative to the 

 Big Naked Bear which formerly existed on the banks of the 

 Hudson. The venerable Heckewelder informs us that Indian 

 mothers used to frighten their children into quietness by speak- 

 ing to them of this animal. 



