122 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 
The accounts of the dimensions of these animals differ ; 
they are reported to attain a weight exceeding 800 pounds, 
and Lewis and Clark mention one that measured nine feet 
in length, and add, that they had seen a still larger one, but 
do not give its dimensions. Governor Clinton received in- 
telligence of one said to be fourteen feet long, but even ad- 
mitting that there was no exaggeration in this statement, it 
is probable that the admeasurements were taken from a skin 
which had been stretched. The dimensions given by Mr. 
Say, which were taken from the two prepared specimens in 
the Philadelphia Museum, by no means give an idea of the 
size to which this animal attains, as these individuals died 
before they had reached their full growth ; these measure- 
ments are however valuable as presenting a correct view 
of the proportions of different parts of the body. 
From the account of Mr. Say, it appears that the Grisly 
Bear differs from the other species of the genus, by the 
elongation of its anterior claws, and the rectilinear or slight- 
ly arcuated form of its facial profile. Its nearest approach 
is to the Norwegian variety of the Alpine Bear, ( U. Jirc- 
tos ,) from which however it differs in the particulars just 
stated, and by its shorter and more conical ears. The 
soles of its feet are longer and its heel broader than those 
of the Brown Bear of Europe. The shortness of its tail 
is also another remarkable characteristic. Dr. Richardson 
says it is a standing joke among the Indian-hunters, when 
they have killed a Grisly Bear, to desire any one unac- 
quainted with the animal, to take hold of its tail. 
The size of the feet and claws of this Bear, is a very 
striking peculiarity of the species ; of this some idea may be 
formed from the measurements given by Lewis and Clark. 
These gentlemen inform us, that the breadth of the fore foot, 
in one of the individuals observed by them, exceeded nine 
inches, whilst the length of the hind foot, exclusive of the 
claws, was eleven inches and three quarters, and its breadth 
seven inches. The claws of the fore feet of another speci- 
men measured more than six inches. The latter, as we 
have said, are considerably longer, and less curved than those 
of the hind feet, and do not narrow in a lateral direction as 
they approach their extremity, but diminish only from be- 
neath, the point is consequently formed by the shelving of 
the inferior surface alone, their breadth remaining the same 
throughout the whole of their enormous length, and their 
power being proportionally increased ; an admirable pro- 
vision for enabling the animal to exercise to the fullust ex- 
tent his propensity for digging up the ground, either in 
search of food, or for other purposes. It appears, however, 
on the other hand, to unfit him for climbing trees, which he 
never attempts. — These claws are worn by the Indians as 
necklaces, and the fortunate individual who procures them 
by the destruction of the animal is highly honoured. 
Of the strength of this Bear, some estimation may be 
formed, from its having been known to drag the carcass of 
a Buffalo, weighing at least a thousand pounds, to a con- 
siderable distance. Dr. Richardson gives the following 
story which he says is well authenticated. “A party of 
voyagers, who had been employed all day in tracking a 
canoe up the Saskatchewan, had seated themselves in the 
the twilight by a fire, and were busy in preparing their 
supper, when a large Grisly Bear sprung over their canoe 
that was tilted behind them, and seizing one of the party by 
the shoulder carried him off. The rest all fled in terror 
with the exception of a Metif, named Bourasso, who grasp- 
ing his gun followed the Bear as it was retreating leisurely 
with its prey. He called to his unfortunate comrade that 
he was afraid of hitting him, if he fired at the Bear, but the 
latter entreated him to fire immediately, without hesitation, 
as the Bear, was squeezing him to death, on this he took a 
deliberate aim, and discharged his piece into the body of 
the Bear, which instantly dropped its prey to pursue Bou- 
rasso. He escaped with difficulty, and the Bear ultimately 
retreated to a thicket, where it was supposed to have died, 
but the curiosity of the party not being a match for their 
fears, the fact of its decease was not ascertained. The man 
who was rescued had his arm fractured, and was otherwise 
severely bitten by the Bear, but finally recovered.”* 
The blow they can inflict with their fore paws is very se- 
vere, and from the size of the claws is often productive of 
serious consequences. The writer we have just quoted also 
mentions, that he was informed that there was a man living 
in the neighborhood of one of the British trading posts, 
who was attacked by a Grisly Bear, which sprung out of a 
thicket, and with one stroke of its paw, completely scalped 
him, laying bare the scull, and bringing the skin of the 
forehead down over the eyes.’ Assistance coming up, the 
Bear made off without doing him further injury, but the 
scalp not being replaced, the poor man lost his sight; al- 
though he thinks that his eyes are uninjured. Another in- 
stance of the same kind is given in Long’s Expedition, of a 
hunter having received a blow from the fore paw of one of 
these animals, which destroyed his eye and crushed his 
cheek bone. 
The Grisly Bear is carnivorous, and, where excited by 
hunger, will indiscriminately slaughter every creature that 
cannot elude his pursuit, but he also will occasionally feed 
on vegetables, and is observed to be particularly fond of the 
roots of some species of Psoralea and Hedysarum. They 
also eat the fruits of various shrubs, as the bird cherry, the 
choke cherry, and the Hippophae canadensis, which latter 
produces a powerful cathartic effect on them. 
The young and gravid females hibernate, but the old 
"Richardson. Faun. Am. Bor. 27. 
