URSUS AMERICANUS. 
IOI 
which I have myself seen, was also a hole dug into the side of a 
knoll, and its presence was. betrayed by the young who were playing 
outside and did not know enough to hide away at the approach of 
man. In this case also the old Bear was unable to get out and was 
easily killed. 
While hunting, June io, 1878, Dr. C. L. Bagg and the writer fol- 
lowed the old trail from Fourth Lake across Eagle Creek in the di- 
rection of John's Lake. In exploring a hardwood ridge a little to 
the north of the regular course we were suddenly surprised by a loud 
and peculiar cry with which we were both unacquainted. It came 
from the direction of a dense balsam swamp below, and somewhat 
resembled the squealing of a pig, while at the same time it suggested 
the noise made by the Great Blue Heron when on its nesting grounds. 
As the cry was repeated Dr. Bagg imitated it, and succeeded so well 
that we soon perceived it to be coming nearer. Fearing that it 
might change its course I ran down the hill and soon saw a dark- 
colored animal, about the size of a Raccoon, emerge from the swamp 
and jump upon a log, rushing headlong in the direction towards Dr. 
Bagg, and squealing at brief intervals as if in great distress. Bring- 
ing my gun (loaded only with No. 4 shot) hastily to my shoulder I 
fired, and the report was followed by a shriek of pain and a plaintive, 
baby-like, sobbing cry that lasted for nearly a minute. On reaching 
the spot the animal was found to be a cub Bear, and was then quite 
dead, one of the shot having passed through both ventricles of the 
heart. It was very thin, weighing but ten pounds (4536 grams), 
and had evidently been lost from its mother for some time. Its 
stomach contained nothing but beech-nuts, and beech-nuts that have 
lain on the ground all winter, and are still fit to eat in June, are cer- 
tainly few and far between. 
In traversing unfrequented portions of the Wilderness one occa- 
sionally meets with a tree whose bark has been scratched and torn, 
at some little height from the ground, in a manner that cannot fail 
to excite his attention and surprise. This is the work of the Bear, 
