2;rb FUAXIC FORESTERS FIELD SPORTS. 



giuess of his coat, render it all but useless to aim at his heart. 

 It is state] th it this tromeiulous savage is ahle to carry olF 

 the carcase of a horse, without being materially impeded in its 

 speed by so vast a burthen. 



One would suppose, that all these things considered, the 

 hunter would be willing to give this sanguinary and gigantic 

 monster the widest of all possible berths ; but such is not the 

 case. The Indians esteem the slaughter of one of these dreadful 

 Bears as equal to a great victory over a hostile tribe, and a 

 necklace of his claws is the noblest ti'ophy which can be borne 

 of heroic daring ; his trail is therefore eagerly pursued, and he 

 is brought to battle with ardor, and if slain, his slaughter is ce- 

 lebrated by the death-song and death-halloo, and his slayer 

 regarded as a great brave from that time forth. 



In like manner, sometimes for the sake of gain, for his fur is 

 rich and valuable, sometimes for the sake of a hearty meal, 

 sometimes for the mere love of sport, the huntsman of the 

 western wilds gives chase to this most terrible of beasts, and 

 even ventures single-handed into his winter den, wherein to 

 assail him. My friend Mr. Thorpe's admirable description of 

 the manner in which the hunter of the plains, which lie about 

 the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, judges of the qualities, 

 age, &c., of this animal, and of the mode in which he demeans 

 himself in the encounter, is so incomparably true and graphic, 

 that I cannot refrain quoting it from Poller's Hawker, to which 

 it was contributed by the author. I liave the* less hesitation in 

 doing this, that I have entirely refrained from making use of 

 this excellent woi-k, when I could elsewhere find materials ; 

 and farthi-r. that I have lieard the author relate vird rorc all and 

 more than all here recited, so that I miQ:ht, if I pleased, rewrite 

 the same matter, and so give his experience to the world in my 

 own words; but always wil'ing myself that any one who deems 

 it worth the while, should quot;' from my poor lucubrations, I 

 presume in this instance to take the like il'ierty with my friends, 

 sure that it will pass unrcproved. 



" The different methods to destrr.y the Grizzly Bear by those 



