184 niVISIoX I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS I. MAMJLiLLV. 



has not lung been known, and of its peculiar liabits nothing has been re- 

 corded by naturali.--ts. 



U. frrux. — (irizzly Bear. This Iiear , by the bulk of its limbs, large 

 size of the head, long and powerfid elaws, inunense strength, ferocity, and 

 wondcrfid tenacity of life, is certainly the most remarkable of the genus, as 

 it is the largest. Lewis and Clark describe one nine feet in length, and 

 weighing eight hundred pounds. Its color is sepia-black, the back grizzled 

 with white, and the limbs shading into absolute black ; the cars arc lar"-c 

 and very hairy ; the tail is a mere rudiment. As its claws are not suHi- 

 ciently curved, it cannot climb trees like the common American bear. 

 According to ]\Ir. Catlin, these animals will not molest a slecjiing person ; and 

 he describes an instance where one of them walked rouml him and his com- 

 panions while sleeping, as its tracks revealed, and then went to their canoe, 

 and made a supper on their provisions. It docs not, indeed, seem disjiosed 

 to attack human beings at all, if not iirst disturbed. On their approach it 

 will assume an erect posture, show its teeth, and, uttering a menacing 

 growl, retreat. It is easily frightened by certain noises, as the beating of 

 drums and tin pans. Uut while it stands in awe of man, and flees before 

 him, it is the terror of all other animals, prostrating the largest buffalo at a 

 blow. Its strength is so enormous, that it will drag, with case, the carcass 

 (pf the largest bison, weighing from ten to twelve hundred pounds, a con- 

 sitlei-aiilc distance, to conceal it in some safe ])lace for future meals. It is 

 an expert and swift swinnner, and, often turning upon its pursuers, chases 

 them in the water, where they sometimes seek refuge from its fiuy. 



One evening, the men in the hindmost of one of Lewis and (.'lai-k's 

 canoes perceived one of these bears lying in the open ground, about three 

 hundred paces from the river; and six of them, who were all good huutei's, 

 went to attack him. Concealing themselves by a small cnainence, they 

 were able to approach within fortv paces unperccived ; four of the hunters 

 now fired, and each lodged a ball in his body, two of which passed directly 

 through the lungs. The bear sprang up, and ran furiously, with oiien 

 mouth, upon them ; two of the hunters, who had reserved their fire, gave 

 him two additional wounds, and one, breaking his shoulder-blade, somewhat 

 retarded his motions. Before they coidd again load their guns, he came so 

 close on them that they were obliged to run towards the river, and before 

 they had gained it, the bear had almost overtaken them. Two men jumped 

 into the canoe; the other four separated, and, concealing themselves among 

 the willows, fired as fast as they could load their pieces. Several times the 

 bear was struck, liut each shot seemed i>nlv to direct his fiu'v towards the 

 hunters ; at last he pursued them so closely that they threw aside their guns 

 and pouches, and jumped from a perpendicular bank, twenty feet high, into 



