152 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



The accounts of the dimensions of these animals difi'er; 

 they are reported to attain a weight exceeding 800 pounds, 

 and Lewis and Clark mention one that measured nine feet 

 in length, and add, that they had seen a still larger one, but 

 do not give its dimensions. Governor Clinton received in- 

 telligence of one said to be fourteen feet long, but even ad- 

 mitting that there was no exaggeration in this statement, it 

 is probable that the admeasurements were taken fromaskin 

 which had been stretched. The dimensions given by Mr. 

 Say, which vvere taken from the two prepared specimens in 

 the Philadelphia Museum, by no means give an idea of the 

 size to which this animal attains, as these individuals died 

 before they had reached their full growth; these measure- 

 ments are however valuable as presenting a correct view 

 of the proportions of different parts of the body. 



From the account of Mr. Say, it appears that the Grisly 

 Bear differs from the other species of the genus, by the 

 elongation of its anterior claws, and the rectilinear or slight- 

 ly arcuated form of its facial profile. Its nearest approach 

 is to the Norwegian variety of the Alpine Bear, ( U. Jirc- 

 tos,) from which however it differs in the particulars just 

 stated, and by its shorter and more conical ears. The 

 soles of its feet are longer and its heel broader than those 

 of the Brown Bear of Europe. The shortness of its tail 

 is also another remarkable characteristic. Dr. Richardson 

 says it is a standing joke among the Indian-hunters, when 

 they have killed a Grisly Bear, to desire any one unac- 

 quainted with the animal, to take hold of its tail. 



The size of the feet and claws of this Bear, is a very 

 striking peculiarity of the species; of this some idea may be 

 formed from the measurements given by Lewis and Clark. 

 These gentlemen inform us, that the breadth of theforefoot, 

 in one of the individuals observed bj^ them, exceeded nine 

 inches, whilst tlie length of the hind foot, exclusive of the 

 claws, was eleven inches and three quarters, and its breadth 

 seven inches. The claws of the fore feet of another speci- 

 men measured more than six inches. The latter, as we 

 have said, areconsiderably 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 be- 

 neath, the point is consequently formed by the shelving of 

 the inferior surface alone, their breadth remaining the same 

 throughout the whole of their enormous length, and their 

 power being proportionally increased; an admirable pro- 

 vision for enabling the animal to exercise to the fullest ex- 

 tent 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. These claws are worn by the Indians as 

 necklaces, and the fortunate individual who procures them 

 by the destruction of the animal is highly honoured. 



Of the strength of this Bear, some estimation may be 

 formed, from its having been known to drag the carcass of 

 a Buffalo, weighing at least a thousand pounds, to a con- 

 siderable distance. Dr. Richardson gives the following 

 story, which he says is well authenticated. " A party of 

 voyagers, who had been employed all day in tracking a 

 canoe up the Saskatchewan, had seated themselves in the 

 twilight by a fire, and were busy in preparing their 

 supper, when a large Grisly Bear sprung over their canoe 

 that was tilted behind them, and seizing one of the party by 

 the shoulder, carried him off. The rest all fled in terror 

 with the exception of a Metif, named Bourasso, who grasp- 

 ing his gun followed the Bear as it was retreating leisurely 

 with its prey. He called to his unfortunate comrade that 

 he was afraid of hitting him, if he fired at the Bear, but the 

 latter entreatcdhim to fire immediately, withouthesitation, 

 as the Bear was squeezing him to death; on this he took a 

 deliberate aim, and discharged his piece into the body of 

 the Bear, wliich instantly dropped its prey to pursue Bou- 

 rasso. He escaped with difficulty, and the Bear ultimately 

 retreated to a thicket, where it was supposed to have died, 

 but the curiosity of the party not being a match for their 

 fears, the fact of its decease was not ascertained. The man 

 who was rescued had his arm fractured, and was otherwise 

 severely bitten by the Bear, but finally recovered.'"' 



The blow they can inflict with their fore paws is verj' se- 

 vere, and from the size of the claws is often productive of 

 serious consequences. The writer we have just quoted also 

 mentions, that he was informed that there was a man living: 



o 



in the neighbourhood of one of the British trading posts, 

 who was attacked by a Grisl}' Bear, which sjjrung out of a 

 thicket, and with one stroke of its paw, completely scalped 

 him, laying bare the scull, and bringing the skin of the 

 forehead down over the eyes. Assistance coming up, the 

 Bear made ofl" without doing him further injury, but the 

 scalp not being replaced, the poor man lost his sight; al- 

 though he thinks that his eyes are uninjured. Another in- 

 stance of the same kind is given in Long's Expedition, of a 

 hunter having received a blow from the fore paw of one of 

 these animals, which destroyed his eye and crushed his 

 cheek bone. 



The Grisly Bear is carnivorous, and, where excited by 

 hunger, will indiscriminately slaughter every creature that 

 cannot elude his pursuit, but he also will occasionally feed 

 on vegetables, and is observed to be particularly fond of the 

 roots of some species of Psoraleu and Hechjsarum. Tliey 

 also cat the fruits of various shrubs, as the bird cherrj', tlie 

 choke cherry, and the Hippophuc canadensis, which latter 

 produces a powerful cathartic effect on them. 



The young and gravid females hibernate, but the old 



* Richardson. Fiuin. Am. Eor. 27. 



