WESTERN WILD SPORTS. 191 



was then placed in a pit, which the animal had dug for its re- 

 ception. This Bear strikes a very violent blow with its fore- 

 paws, and the claws inflict dreadful wounds. One of the cubs, 

 as before mentioned, belonging to the Philadelphia Museum, 

 sti-uck the other a blow over part of its back and shoulder, 

 which produced a large wound like a sabre cut. It is stated in 

 Long's Expedition, that a hunter received a blow from the fore- 

 paw of a Grizzly Bear, which destroyed his eye, and crushed 

 his cheek bone. 



" The Grizzly Bear is unable to climb trees, like other Bears; 

 he is much more intimidated by the voice than the aspect of 

 man ; and on some occasions, when advancing to attack an 

 individual, he has turned and retired, merely in consequence of 

 the screams extorted by fear. The degree of ferocity exhibited 

 by the Grizzly Bear, appears to be considerably influenced by 

 the plenty or scarcity of food in the region which it inhabits. 

 Anterior to the time of Lewis and Clarke's expedition, nothing 

 very satisfactory was known in relation to this Bear ; and it 

 was not until the publication of Long's Expedition to the Rocky 

 Mountains, that a correct scientific description was given by 

 that distinguished naturalist. Say. 



" It may be with certainty distinguished from all the known 

 species of this genus, by its elongated claws, and the rectilinear 

 or slightly arched figure of its facial profile. Its general appear- 

 ance may be compared with the Alpine Bear of Europe — U. 

 Arctos — especially with the Norwegian variety. The Alpine 

 Bear has not the elongated claws, and the facial space is deeply 

 indented between the eyes. This Bear is also a climber ; the 

 Grizzly Bear is not. 



" On the front of the Grizzly Bear the hair is short, and be- 

 tween and anterior to the eyes it is very much so. On the rest 

 of the body, it is long and very thickly set, being blacker and 

 coarser on the legs, feet, shoulders, throat, behind the thighs, 

 and beneath the belly ; on the snout it is paler. The ears are 

 short and rounded, the forehead somewhat convex, or arcuated ; 

 and the line of the profile continues on the snout, without any 



