228 THE WILDERNESS AND JUNGLE 



old stranded pork barrel for the sake of the 

 salt. 



BEARS 



The handsomest bear in Canada is the polar 

 bear of the northern ice, a region which lies 

 somewhat north of the latitude of this book. 

 The grandest wild beast in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains is the grizzly bear, also known as the 

 silver-tip grizzly, perhaps the fiercest and 

 most terrible of all bears. Like the lion and 

 tiger, the grizzly will always make itself scarce 

 if not molested, but when wounded or at 

 bay it attacks with sudden and tremendous 

 savagery. A large grizzly measures over 

 8 ft. from snout to tail, and weighs over 

 1000 Ibs. 



The food of the grizzly bear is very varied, 

 including grubs and insects, roots, berries, and 

 wild fruits, as well as cattle and carrion, the 

 last chiefly such putrid salmon as it can find on 

 the river banks. It is a great cattle-killer, and 

 in consequence of this habit a price of ten or 

 fifteen dollars is put on its head in many States. 

 The grizzly is still not uncommon in Wyoming 

 and Colorado, but is more often shot in British 

 Columbia. Its fur is at its best in May when 

 the animal comes out of its cache, or winter 

 quarters. 



Dr. T. G. Longstaff sends me particulars of an 



