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THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 



control until they are six months of age. For the first year of their existence the fur 

 continues to retain the gray hue, but when they reach their second year the light-hued 

 hair gives place to the glossy black coat which distinguishes the Musquaw. They shed 

 their coat twice in the year ; namely, in spring and autumn ; so that when the winter 

 arrives, they are defended from its rigors by a new and warm covering of thickly 

 planted hair. On account of this change in the color of the fur, the juvenile Musquaw 

 has been considered as a separate species, and admitted into systematic catalogues under 

 the name of Yellow, or Cinnamon Bear. 



THERE are few animals which are so widely and deservedly dreaded as the GRIZZLY 

 BEAR. This terrible animal is an inhabitant of many portions of Northern America, 

 and is the acknowledged superior of every animal that ranges over the same country. 



The other members of the ursine family are not given to attacking human beings, un- 

 less they are alarmed or wounded, but the Grizzly, or " Ephraim," as the creature is 

 familiarly termed by the hunters, displays a most unpleasant readiness to assume the 

 offensive as soon as it perceives a man, be he mounted or on foot, armed or otherwise. 



Yet the Bear is not entirely without the innate dread of humanity which is in- 

 stinctively implanted in every known animal, for, although it will attack a man without 

 hesitation, it will not venture to follow up his track, and even if it should come across 

 the air which is tainted by his presence, the Grizzly Bear will escape as fast as 

 he can run. To this curious instinct the hunters have more than once owed their 

 lives. 



One man, who was engaged in duck-shooting, and whose gun was only loaded with 

 shot, was suddenly alarmed at seeing a Grizzly Bear cantering towards him, having 

 clearly already made up his mind to attack him. For the moment the old man was in 

 despair, but his presence of mind soon returned, and he made his escape in a very in- 

 genious manner. Plucking some of the light fibres from his rough coat, he threw them 

 in the air, in order to ascertain the direction of the wind, and then moved to one side, so 

 as to cause the wind to blow from himself towards the advancing foe. As soon as the 

 Bear perceived the strange scent, it stopped, sat upon its hind legs, wavered, and finally 

 made off, leaving its intended prey master of the field. 



If, however, the anger of this terrible animal should be aroused by the pain of a 

 wound, it cares little for men or their scent, but rushes furiously upon them, dealing the 

 most fearful blows with its huge paws, armed with their array of trenchant talons, and 

 holding its powerful teeth in readiness for a close combat. So tenacious of life is the 

 Grizzly Bear, that unless it receives a wound in the head or heart it will continue its 

 furious struggles, even though it be riddled with bullets and its body pierced with many 

 a gaping wound. These warlike capacities render the creature respected by the natives 

 and colonists, and the slaughter of a Grizzly Bear in fair fight is considered an extremely 

 high honor. Among the native tribes that dwell in the northern portions of America, 

 the possession of a necklace formed from the claws of the Grizzly Bear is considered 

 as enviable a mark of distinction as a blue ribbon among ourselves. No one is permitted 

 to wear such an ornament unless the Bear had fallen under his hand ; consequently, the 

 value of the decoration is almost incalculable. So largely is this mark of distinction 

 prized, that the Indian who has achieved such dignity can hardly be induced to part 

 with his valued ornament by any remuneration that can be offered. 



Mr. Palliser, who was fortunate enough to kill five of these terrible creatures, without 

 suffering from their teeth or claws, bears ample testimony to the fury with which they 

 make their assaults, and the need of a cool determination in the hunter who matches 

 himself against such a foe. Just as the Bear approaches within a few yards of its ad- 

 versary, it sits up on its hind legs for a moment, and then rushes forward with almost 

 inconceivable velocity. But the moment when the Bear remains quiescent affords suffi- 

 cient time for a determined hunter to take a steady aim, and to lodge a bullet in the 

 heart or brain of the savage foe. 



When the hunter is sufficiently confident in his powers of nerve to match himself 

 against the Bear, he can generally come upon his game by searching among the lower 

 lying grounds, which are filled with rugged timber and scrub fruit-trees. 



