252 BIG GAME OF NORTH AMERICA. 



shape of a pen, with a falling top, all so strongly put 

 together that the animal could not break out. • 



"When I have found them ravaging a corn-field, 1 1 

 have sometimes set a musket to kill them as they got 

 over the fence. It is a Bear's habit to go into a field and 

 return at the same place. A knowledge of this enables the 

 hunter to use either the gun or a large steel-trap, fastened^ 

 with a heavy .log-chain to a log. When caught, its great 

 strength enables it to get out of the field and drag the log 

 to some distance in the forest, until exhausted. The hunter 

 follows the trail, and shoots it the next morning, without 

 any danger to himself. 



"Later in summer, when the lakes or bottoms of the 

 large southern rivers have dried down to shallow depths, 

 the Bear takes to them, and, by muddying the water, kills 

 with its fore paws the fish that rise to the top. They are 

 remarkably fond of fish, and will not eat a spoiled fish as 

 long as they can catch the live ones. 



"As soon as the mast begins falling, they cease fishing, 

 and take to the mast. The white-oak acorn is a favorite 

 food. I have killed many a Bear while ' lopping.'' This is 

 an expression used by hunters to denote that the Bear has 

 climbed a tree loaded with acorns, and is breaking down 

 the limbs. The hunter hears the noise, and, by cautious 

 creeping, gets sufficiently near to shoot the Bear before he 

 is discovered. Should the Bear hear him, he will fall to the 

 ground, and run off, apparently not the least hurt by the 

 fall. 



' As soon as the chestnuts ripen, is the best time for the 

 still-hunter. This is the best season for finding Bears in 

 search of chestnuts; and not far from us are a number of 

 chestnut-trees, where I am in hopes of finding some Bears 

 ' lopping' to-morrow morning. You boys go to sleep now, 

 for long before the stars disappear I will rouse you to eat 

 your breakfast, and then to follow me, as silent as death 

 when we approach the trees. As we go along, I will show 

 you by what marks and signs I manage to find Bears when 

 still-hunting." 



