222 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
is cnrions. Bruin is a sober, sedate, methodical 
old gentleman ; he has a determined modus ope- 
randi for everything, from which he will not de- 
viate. Among other of his stereotypical habits is 
that of getting into a field, night after night, in the 
same manner, and at the same place ; climbing 
over the very identical spot of the fence at which 
he mounted on the first occasion of his trying the 
corn. The scratches produced by his claws, and 
the smears from his soiled feet, make this spot suf- 
ficiently obvious. Just at this place, then, the 
overseer has fixed up a loaded rifle, making it point 
upwards at such an angle that the muzzle may 
face the animal’s breast as he mounts the rails. A 
stick is attached to the trigger, and this is made 
fast, at right angles, to a transverse stick, which 
rests on two forks about breast high, a few inches 
from the fence, on the outside. In rising on his 
hind feet to put his fore paws on the rails, the 
Bear will press with his breast against the trans- 
verse stick, which, driving back the trigger, will 
discharge the contents of the rifle full into his 
heart. I have not yet heard of the result in this 
particular case, but it is an approved ‘method of | 
proceeding, and sanguine expectations are enter- 
tained of success. 
The predilections of Bruin are not confined to | 
corn. He is an epicure and a gourmand, and I 
especially relishes well-fed pork. The hogs that | 
run freely in the woods are too sharp for him, but | 
the home-fed porkers that are confined in the yard : 
have no means of escape, and the farmer has occa- ; 
sionally to lament the loss of a fat hog on which ; 
he had been looking with complacent approval, i 
and pleasing anticipations of the pickle tub. Our ' 
