OKPER V. THE C.VrvNIVORA. 



173 



the Imntcr has advanced to witliiii gunshot of the bear, he fires upon Iiini ; 

 and tliis is very easily aceoniplishcd in autuiim, as he is then more fearless, 

 and is constantly prowling about for berries of diiferent kinds, on which he 

 feeds at this season of the year. Should the man chance to miss his aim, 

 the furious beast will directly turn upon him in a rage, and the little Lap- 

 lander is obliged to take to liis heels with all possible s[)eed, leaving his 

 knapsack behind him on the spot. The bear, coming up to this, seizes upon 

 it, biting and tearing it into a tliousand pieces. "While he is thus venting his 

 fury, the Laplander, who is generally a good marksman, reloads his gun, 

 and usually destroys him at the second shot ; if not, the bear, iu most cases, 

 runs away. 



One of the most remarkable traits in the character of the bear is its pro- 

 pensity for climbing, and the facility with which it accomplishes the feat. It 

 seems almost incredible that an animal so bulky, and apparently so chuusy, 

 should be able to perform such acts. Trees, ladders, and scaffoldings it 

 ascends with the case and security of the monkey, although not with the 

 monkey's agility. The fallowing anecdote furnishes an annising illustration 

 of this habit : — 



"In 1825, a tame bear took a notion of climbing up the scaffolding placed 

 round a brick stalk, erecting by j\Ir. G. Johnstone, at St. IJolloy. lie 

 began to ascend very steadily, cautiously examining, as he went along, the 

 various joists, to see if they were secure. lie at length, to the infinite 

 amusement and astonishment of the workmen, reached the summit of the 

 seafiblding, one hundred and twenty feet high. Bruin had no sooner attained 

 the object of his wishes, than his physiognomy cxhiliitcd great self-gratula- 

 tion ; and he looked about him with great complacency, and inspected the 

 building operations going on. The workmen were much amused with their 

 novel visitor, and every mark of ei\ility and attention was shown him, whicji 

 he very condescendingly returned by good-humoredly presenting them with 

 a shake of his paw. A lime bucket was now hoisted, in order to lower him 

 down, and the workmen, with all due courtesy, were going to assist him into 

 it; but he declined their attentions, and preferred returning in the manner 

 he had gone up. lie afterwards repeated his adventurous visit." 



Not less curious is the manner in which the bear recei\es and punishes its 

 enemies. Standing erect like a man, with its fire jiaws extended, it advances 

 fearelcssly on its foe, first administering stunning blows with its paws, 

 then, seizing the enemy in a close embrace, proceeds to destroy him, if pos- 

 sible, Ijy suffocation. ]Man, however, has little to fear from the common 

 bear ; but there are species with which he would find an encounter, even if 

 well armed, a terrible affair, as the following incident will show : — 



"As a young man, named Vance, son of jNIr. John Vance, of Bear Creek, 



