THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 123 
These gentlemen inform us that the breadth of the fore 
foot in one of the individuals observed by them exceeded 
nine inches, while the length of his hind foot, exclusive 
of the talons, was eleven inches and three quarters, and 
its breadth seven inches. The claws of the fore feet of 
another specimen measured more than six inches. The 
latter are considerably longer and less curved than those 
of the hind feet, and do not narrow in a lateral direction 
as they approach their extremity, but diminish only 
from beneath: the point is consequently formed by the 
shelving of the inferior surface alone, their breadth 
remaining the same throughout the whole of their enor- 
mous length, and their power being proportionally 
increased; an admirable provision for enabling the 
animal to exercise to the fullest extent his propensity 
for digging up the ground, either in search of food or 
for other purposes. It appears, however, on the other 
hand, to unfit him for climbing trees, which he never 
attempts; and this remarkable circumstance in his habits 
affords a striking distinction between him and all the 
other Bears, which are essentially climbers. 
Of all the quadrupeds which inhabit the northern 
regions of the American continent, the Grizzly Bear is 
unquestionably the most formidable and the most dreaded. 
Superior to the rest of his tribe, not excepting even the 
polar species, in bulk, in power, in agility, and in the 
ferocity of his disposition, it is not to be wondered at 
that he should be regarded by the native Indians with 
an almost superstitious terror, and that some portion of 
this feeling should have been communicated even to 
the civilized travellers, who have occasionally met with 
him in the wild and desolate regions which are subject 
to his devastations. In the Journals of some of these 
