BEARS AND BEAR-HUNTING. 123 
This results, probably, from the hardening of the last fecal 
matter, mostly mucus. which comes from the intestines. But 
the idea that it is composed of gum,—an idea that I never 
heard of in Texas,—entertained by some, reminds me of 
another custom of bears, probably connected with the sexual 
heat. In some localities, particularly on a high bluff near a 
‘stream, a pine tree is occasionally seen, from which the bark, 
at a certain height, is plainly torn off by the teeth of some 
animal, It is said to be done by the bear in this manner: 
he rises on his hind feet. with his back to the tree, and, 
turning his head to one side and to the other, rips off the 
bark with his tusks. The size of the animal is known, ap- 
proximately, by the height of the marks he leaves. The 
same tree is visited year after year by bears of various sizes, 
—nhone very small, however. I would say, trusting to 
memory, that the average height may be about four feet. I 
have seen several such trees. I think Mr. Burke had never 
witnessed this performance, but received his information 
from Indians. I never saw any other than a pine thus 
marked. 
Bears are fond of honey, and will rob bee-hives, if within 
reach. They also dig up “yellow-jackets,” wasp’s-nests, for 
the larve. The account of this is amusing. The animal 
digs rapidly, and when the insects sting him too fiercely he 
quits for a moment, rolls over and over on the ground, 
snarling the while, and returns again to the attack, perhaps 
to go through the same movements several times before he 
bears off the prize. 
Itis exciting sport hunting bears with dogs. These come 
to be almost as fond of it as- the hunter himself. Most of 
them, in the beginning, fear to attack, and some never get 
the better of the dread he inspires. A fierce one is apt to 
Spring at the ear, to his sorrow. But the dog that has eour- 
age and prudence combined bites him behind, which be will 
by no manner of means tolerate, but will wheel to fight. I 
doubt if he ever properly strikes with his paws. He makes 

