THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 149 



lier cubs, but omng to the darkness this was impossible, 

 and at length growing impatient, I pulled at the first 

 dark hide I could see. It proved to be one of the 

 voung bears, which in a very loud voice protested against 

 the indignity offered it ; but the mother and the rest of 

 the family thought only of their own safety, and beat a 

 rapid retreat into the densest part of the cane-thicket, 

 the bending reeds indicatiog the course of their hurried 



flight. 



The grizzly bear alone is really formidable, and as 

 this dangerous animal is to be found only on the 

 borders of the Eocky Mountains, it is hardly necessary 

 to speak of it here. But the hunter must possess iron 

 nerves and an unerring eye who ventures to rouse the 

 grizzly bear from his den. 



The young cubs are frequently caught and trained 

 up as pets. Tame bears are not at all uncommon on 

 plantations in the Southern States. They are very 

 amusing so long as they remain small, but when they 

 reach a year's age, they become too large and mischievous 

 to be tolerated, and are generally killed. In captivity 

 they are sometimes known to exhibit very decided anti- 

 teetotal principles. A Spaniard who kept a drinking 

 shop in New Orleans had a tame bear which had ac- 

 quired a strong liking for whisky toddy, and, unless 

 supplied with his favourite beverage, became very 

 troublesome and unruly. 



When the female is about to produce her offspring, 



