GRIZZLY BEAR. 



Ursus hiyrribilis, — Ord. 



THE well-known Grizzly inhabits the Western portions of the 

 continent, from the Missouri River to the Pacific coast, but 

 is found most abundantly in the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra 

 Nevadas. It is the largest of the genus found within the limits of 

 the United States, sometimes weighing from fifteen hundred to two 

 thousand pounds, and its ferocity makes it by far the most danger- 

 ous antagonist that the hunter will meet. 



A technical description of it would be about the following : — 

 Size very large ; tail shorter than ears ; hair coarse, darkest near 

 base, with light tips ; an erect mane between shoulders ; feet large, 

 fore claws double the length of the hinder ; a dark dorsal stripe 

 from occiput to tail, a lateral one on each side along the flanks, 

 nearly concealed by the light tips of the hair ; intervals between 

 the stripes lighter ; hairs on body brownish yellow, or hoary at 

 tips ; parts around ears dusky ; legs approaching black ; muzzle 

 pale. There are some which differ in color from the description 

 given, but all belong to the same species. This bear is found ex 

 tensively in California along the foothills of the Coast and Cascade 

 Ranges, wherever oaks and manzanita are found, for a great por- 

 tion of their food consists of acorns and the berries of the latter. 

 The manzanita, which is peculiar to the flora of the Pacific coast, 

 derives its botanical name {Arctostaphylus glaticd) from its associa- 

 tion with this animal, arkios .signifying bear in Greek. To procure 

 the fruit of this shrub bruin will travel far and face many dangers. 

 The Grizzly Bear brings forth from one to three cubs about the 

 middle of January. At birth the young are said to be very small, 

 scarcely larger than puppies. They grow rapidly, however, but 

 remain with the mother all through the summer. It is even said 

 that they associate with the dam until she is just about to bring 

 forth again. 



