THE BLACK BEAR OF MUSKOKA 79 



luxurious, and yet, in comparison, the hard bunk 

 of my hut was an indulgence. Next morning I 

 discovered I had slept in a bear's den." 



The black bear is a remarkably swift runner 

 when first alarmed, and is never treed unless 

 pursued by good dogs and hunters on horseback. 



Few dogs will venture to tackle a bear, though 

 they will pursue him and hamper his flight by 

 snapping at his legs as he runs away. The 

 hound crossed with the bulldog is perhaps the 

 best breed for bear-hunting. Four or five of 

 these dogs have been known to attack and over- 

 power a medium-sized cub. The Indians have a 

 special breed whose origin is uncertain, and I 

 have also seen wolf-hybrids about their wigwams. 

 Young wolf-cubs make very pretty and amusing 

 pets, and when associated from an early age with 

 the domestic dog they will interbreed. The off- 

 spring is like its reclaimed parent, very unreliable 

 and treacherous. One day it will be gentle and 

 fawning with a child ; the next day it will snarl 

 and snap at every one who happens to approach 

 the kennels. These brutes, however, will attack 

 a bear without hesitation, and fight with the 

 courage and madness of a tiger. 



Shooting bears out of a canoe requires some 



