116 NATURE AND HABITS OF THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 



and countries adjacent, viz. : The grizzly bear, the black, the red, and the 

 white. 



Of these, the grizzly bear stands pre-eminent in ferocity and strength. 

 He will almost invariably flee at the sight or scent of a man, and seldom 

 attacks any one unless wounded. When shot, he generally runs at full 

 speed towards the sound, and woe to the unfortunate hunter who then 

 comes in his way, unless fully prepared for a deadly encounter ! 



This animal reigns prince of the mountains, and every other beast within 

 his wide realm acknowledges his supremacy. 



Wolves and panthers dare not approach him, or disturb aught savoring 

 of his ownership. Even the carcase of his prey, covered with the earth 

 and rock his cautious instinct teaches him to heap upon it for preservation, 

 is unmolested, though hundreds of wolves and panthers might be starving 

 around. 



Buffalo dread his presence far more than the dangerous approach of 

 the hunter, and will sooner bring into requisition their swiftest powers of 

 flight on such occasions. With great difficulty a horse can can be per- 

 suaded to go within any near distance of one of them, even when led, and 

 then he will quail and tremble in every joint, from extreme terror. 



In short, the grizzly bear stalks forth at pleasure, in his majesty and 

 strength, lord of the wild solitudes in which he dwells, and none dares op- 

 pose him. 



Some writers assert that bears will not prey upon dead carcases, — this 

 is contrary to fact. I have often known them take possession of the 

 carcases of animals, even when nearly putrid, and remain until they were 

 devoured. 



They frequently kill buffalo, horses, and cattle to gratify tlieir taste for 

 animal food, and, in such cases, always drag their prey to some convenient 

 spot, and perform the task of burial by heaping upon it piles of rock or 

 earth, to a depth of several feet, for protection against the voracity of other 

 beasts of prey. It is not uncommon, even, that they drag the entire carcase 

 of a full-grown bull a distance of several hundred yards, by the horns, for 

 this purpose, — -so great is their strength and so accute their sagacity. 



