CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GRIZZLY BEAR 97 



domestic animals! This fact speaks volumes for the moral 

 character of our bears. ^ 



The Grizzly is an animal of commanding appearance, and 

 amongst other wild beasts it acknowledges no superior. A 

 small Grizzly cub which we once set free in a mixed com- 

 pany of five or six bears of other species, all of which were 

 larger than he, boldly stalked into the centre of the group, 

 with an air of conscious superiority and courage that was 

 both characteristic and amusing. It was the other bears 

 which were frightened, not he! 



Specimens of this species are readily recognized by their 

 high shoulders, powerful proportions, grizzly-gray hair, and 

 long, curved claws. The standard color (in winter) is brown 

 next to the skin, the extremities of the hair being tipped 

 with silvery gray, from which has come the common name 

 of "Silver-Tip." 



From Mexico and southern California to the Yukon Val- 

 ley, especially along the main ranges of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, the Grizzly shows about six different shades of color, 

 from brown to silvery gray. The huge brown Grizzly of 

 southern California, now very rare, has been described as a 

 species distinct from the Rocky Mountain Silver-Tip. I 

 once measured the dry skin of one of these animals, which 

 was 9 feet 4 inches in length, and 10 feet 3 inches wide across 

 the shoulders, between the ends of the front claws. 



So far as I am aware, the largest Grizzly Bear ever actu- 



' Since the above was written, the truce of the Yellowstone Park has been broken. 

 Two horses belonging to a party of tourists have been killed by bears, and the 

 aggressiveness of the animals has become so serious that it will be necessary 

 for the Government to take measures which will teach them to keep their place. 



