SAGACITY OF THE BEAE. 153 



The more we learn of the bear's nature and habits, 

 the more must we admire his mental qualifications. 

 The animal quite deserves the title (bestowed upon 

 him by the American trapp-er) of 'The knowingest 

 varmint as is.' The bear perhaps displays more of 

 mind in his mode of life and habits than any other 

 beast of the chase, and has the organ of order very 

 fully developed. So long as they haunt a particular 

 portion of the forest, they always make use of the same 

 pathway, whether proceeding to water or to their feed- 

 ing ground. 



In walking they move both legs on the right side 

 together at the same time, and then those on the other 

 side ; always taking particular care to place the paws 

 on the track previously made, so as to avoid making 

 more signs of their progress than necessary. In crossing 

 creeks, streams, or chasms, they always use as a bridge 

 the fallen tree to which they have been accustomed, 

 and in robbing a cornfield or cane plantation take a 

 somewhat similar course, unless indeed anything should 

 chance to scare them from their accustomed regularity, 

 always climbing the fence at the same spot. 



In many parts of the forest may be seen marks made 

 by the bears with their teeth on the bark of young 

 trees or stout bushes, at as great a height as the animal 

 can reach. Though almost every bear-hunter is aware 

 of this habit, and some few naturalists and sporting 

 ^vl'iters have made mention of it, few have made any 



