354 Wild Beasts 



sions have been often and also differently determined. 

 Lockwood (" Riverside Natural History ") very properly 

 gives no ultimate decision. Lord Dunraven (" The Great 

 Divide ") speaks of having shot "a middling-sized beast 

 weighing about eight hundred pounds." Richard Harlan 

 (" Fauna Americana ") says that the animal's " total length 

 is 8 feet 7 inches and 6 lines ; its greatest circumference 

 5 feet 10 inches ; the circumference of its neck 3 feet 11 

 inches, and the length of its claws 4 inches 5 lines." 

 Captain Lewis measured tracks " eleven inches long and 

 seven and a half wide, exclusive of the claws," which are 

 reported by different observers to be of all lengths between 

 four and seven inches ; and the truth is that no one has 

 been in a position to pronounce definitely on a single point 

 respecting this animal's weight and size. It is the largest 

 and most powerful beast of prey in the world. So much 

 may be said confidently, but beyond that data for positive 

 statements are not extant. 



With regard to the grizzly bear's habits, they are variable, 

 like the color of his coat, which may at one time, and place 

 justify the name he bears, and at another be almost black. 

 Ursus horribilis preys upon all the large game of North 

 America ; he is, as H. W. Elliott (" Our Arctic Province ") 

 observes, " a most expert fisherman," and appears to be 

 equally partial to wild fruits and carrion. These brutes 

 consume large quantities of mast, they dig up the pomme 

 blanche and other tubers and roots, and it is said that their 

 relatives of the black species are sometimes devoured. 

 Nothing edible comes amiss to a grizzly, from the larvae of 

 insects to spoiled salmon, or from buffalo-berries to the 



