148 THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. 



have been known where even the she-bear, evidently 

 considering discretion the better part of valour, has 

 abandoned her cubs to the mercy of the hunter, and 

 sought safety in the dense jungle. In walking through 



the forest in Brazos county with Colonel A , we 



saw a four months old cub gathering blackberries. My 

 companion, the Colonel, instantly fired, hitting it in the 

 breast as it sat up plucking the berries, and the youngster 

 at once rolled over, making a terrible outcry about its 

 wound. The old bear, who had been sheltered by the 

 tall brambles, took to her heels at the sound of the 

 shot, in her hurry and fright running against and over 

 the cub. In striking against him, she fell, but, quickly 

 regaining her feet, was soon lost to sight in the wood. 



On another occasion, while out alone in the evenino- 

 riding: along: a rouo'h road which had been cut throuo'h 

 the forest for the purpose of hauling timber, I caught 

 a glimpse of two dark objects which crossed the road 

 a little distance ahead, and disappeared in some young 

 cane. I dismounted, tied my horse to a tree, and as I 

 walked up to see if I could find the objects which I had 

 seen so indistinctl}", a third black animal walked across 

 the road. This time I saw plainly enough a half-grown 

 bear cub. Shpping quietly along, I soon gained the 

 spot where they had crossed, and after a careful search 

 could see the cane stems move here and there in parts 

 where the bears were busily devouring the young stems. 

 I tried for some time to distinguish the old lady from 



