522 HISTORY OF 



This animal is capable of some degree of instruction. Theie 

 are few but have seen it dance in awkward measures ujiou its 

 hind feet, to the voice or the instrument of its leader ; and it 

 must be confessed that the dancer is often found to be the best 



T/ie Grizzly Bear. A native also of tlic northern division of America, 

 and more particularly of that extensive tract of country which constitutes 

 the newly erected State of Missouri, the Grizzly Bear difters in many strik- 

 ing points, both of character and habits, from the Black Bear, as well as from 

 every other animal of the very natural group of which he forms part. By 

 his elongated, narrowed, and flattened muzzle, added to the slight elevation 

 of liis forehead, he is closely connected \vith the black boar of America, 

 and as remarkably distinguished from the common brown bear of Europe, 

 and from the white bear of the polar regions, which last, in size and gen- 

 eral form, ofiers perhaps the nearest a)>pro.\imation to the present species. 

 But Ills enormous magnitude, which may be stated as averaging twice the 

 bulk of the black bear ; the greatly increased size and power of liis canine 

 teeth : and, above all, the excessive length of his talons, on the fore feet 

 especially, afl'ord characteristic diiferences so obvious and so essential, that 

 it is difficult to conceive how they couia have been so long overlooked by 

 naturalists as well as travellers, who liavc all, until within little more than 

 twenty years of the present time, passed him over without even a casuiU 

 hint that he presented any claims to be considered as distinct from the 

 common species of his coinitry. 



His hair, generally speaking, is longer, liner, and more abundant than that 

 of the black bear, and varies in colour to an almost indefinite extent, passing 

 through all the intermediate shades between a light gray and a black brown. 

 The brown tinge is, however, the most common ; and it is always more or less 

 grizzled either by the iutermixtiu-e of grayish hairs, or by the brown haira 

 being tip|)ed with gray. The hair of the legs and feet is darkei' and coarsei', 

 and diminishes in length as it descends ; on the nnizzle it becomes remark- 

 ably pale, and is so much shortened as to give to the animal an appearance 

 of baldness. His eyes are very small, and hardly at all prominent ; and the 

 line of the profile is consequently nearly straight. His tail issciu'cely visible, 

 being almost entirely concealed by the long haii s which suiTound it. Ot 

 the great size of his feet and talons, some judgment may be formed from the 

 measurements given by Captains Lewis and Clarke, the first travellers by 

 whom the grizzly beai- was accurately described. These gentlemen inform 

 us that the breadth of the fore foot in one of the individuals observed by them 

 exceeded nine inches, while the length of his hind foot, e.xclusive of the 

 talons, was eleven inches and three quarters, and its breadth seven inches. 

 The claws of the fore foot of another specinnin measured more than six 

 inches. The latter are considerably longer and less ciuved tlian those of 

 the hind feet, and do not narrow in a lateral directit)n as they approach their 

 extremity, but diminish oidy from beneath : the point is consequently formed 

 by the shelving of the inferior surface ahme, their breadth remaining the 

 same throughout the whole of their enormous length, and their power be- 

 ing proportionally increased ; an admirable provision for enabling the ani- 

 mal to exercise to the fullest extent his propensity for digging up the ground, 

 cither in search of food or for other purposes. It appears, however, on the 

 vthcr hand, to unfit liim for climbing trees, which he never attempt^s ; and 



