262 HUNTING SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



In various portions of our country, many of our 

 woodsmen and hunters who have seen the Bear perform- 

 ing this singular operation just described, imagine that 

 it does so for the purpose of leaving behind it an indica- 

 tion of its size and power. They measure the height at 

 which the scratches are made, and in this manner can, 

 in fact, form an estimate of the magnitude of the indi- 

 vidual. My own opinion, however, is different. It 

 seems to me that the Bear scratches the trees, not for 

 the purpose of showing its size or its strength, but merely 

 for that of sharpening its teeth and claws, to enable it 

 better to encounter a rival of its own species during the 

 amatory season. The Wild Boar of Europe clashes its 

 tusks and scrapes the earth with its feet, and the Deer 

 rubs its antlers against the lower part of the stems of 

 young trees or bushes, for the same purpose. 



Being one night sleeping in the house of a friend, I 

 was awakened by a negro servant bearing a light, who 

 gave me a note, which he said his master had just re- 

 ceived. I ran my eye over the paper, and found it to 

 be a communication from a neighbor, requesting my 

 friend and myself to join him as soon as possible, and 

 assist in killing some bears, at that moment engaged in 

 destroying his corn. I was not long in dressing, you 

 may be assured, ,and on entering the parlor, found my 

 friend ^quipped, and only waiting for some bullets, which 

 a r<jgro was employed in casting. The overseer's horn 

 was heard calling up the negroes from their different 

 cabins. Some were already engaged in saddling our 

 horses, whilst others were gathering all the cur-dogs of 

 the plantation. All was bustle. Before half an hour 



