GRIZZLY BEAU. 21 



did we see them so gentle as to bear too much familiarity. When 

 the male and female are caged together they are incessantly quarrel- 

 ling, especially at feeding time. Gallantry seems to be unknown 

 to the burly male at such times, for he will attack his companion 

 in the most vicious manner to recover even the smallest morsel of 

 food. There is a rude but significant word in the Saxon to express 

 the highest type of selfishness, namely, " hoggishness," yet bearish- 

 ness would be more literally correct, for the Suidce axe generous in 

 comparison to the monarch of this continent. 



Bears are, in our estimation, contemptible creatures, not fit for 

 food. Their diet is too varied. In the spring they dig up ants' 

 nests and devour the eggs and inmates, catch frogs, and eat with 

 relish any carrion that can be picked up. The summer is devoted 

 to the untiring pursuit of mice and beetles, and a huge creature 

 weighing a thousand pounds gives his whole time and energies to 

 the capture of such game as this. When the berries and nuts are 

 ripe the bear's food is delicate enough ; but, although we have occa- 

 sionally been obliged to eat bear meat or go hungry, we would 

 vastly prefer good tough government mule. 



