BLACK BEAR. 137 



to be exposed, to shoot at. A ball entering there, and 

 going either upwards or horizontally, always proves 

 fatal. However, behind the shoulder, very low down, 

 is the favourite aim with me. In these cross shots, if 

 obtainable, you always have more to shoot at, and the 

 regions of the heart are reached nearer the surface. 

 The butt of the ear, a little backwards, if close enough 

 to make certain, is another deadly point ; but the size 

 of this delicate and mortal place is small, and should 

 never be chosen beyond thirty yards. The head shot 

 can, with conical bullets, easily be performed; but a 

 spherical bullet, especially from a small-bore rifle, from 

 the wedge- shape of the cranium, is very apt to glance 

 off without injuring more than the skin. 



In hunting bears with dogs, the commonest cur that 

 has pluck enough to snap at his heels is the best 

 animal for the purpose. The bear gets worried, then 

 cross, and ultimately ascends the first tree that his 

 judgment tells him is suitable, resting most frequently 

 on the soonest reached branch out of harm's way, 

 unless the hunter be seen or heard ; if so, then the 

 highest foot of bearable timber will be selected. It 

 is not uncommon on these occasions for him to 

 ascend too high for the strength of the limb, when, 

 the bough breaking, both come tumbling to the earth. 

 Although such a rapid and lofty descent would 



