ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
19 
Goulard, about a hundred miles north of New Orleans. For 
several nights great depredations had been committed in a 
large maize plantation some ten or twelve miles distant, sup- 
posed to be the work of wild cattle, a few of which had been 
seen in the neighboring swamps and cane-brakes. A party 
was at once formed to stay the mischief. It was a lovely 
cloudless night as we reached the plantation, the moon shining 
out in all her splendor, and the rich perfume from a magnolia 
swamp in the vicinity hung upon the breeze as it only can hang 
in the South. After seeing the rifles all prepared, each mem- 
ber of our party, in eager anticipation, arranged themselves 
around the spot, preparing to surround the depredators after 
they entered, and so make sure of them on their retreat. 
Scarcely had we taken our positions, when a rustling among 
and waving of the maize showed the approach of one or more 
animals. Two shots were fired in quick succession by Major 
H — , followed by several others from different quarters, and 
three fine black bears were measuring their length upon the 
sward, whilst two others had escaped in the general confusion. 
They were covered with fat ; and we learned afterwards that 
several plantations higher up the Bayou had been entirely 
laid waste, doubtless by the same marauders. 
The Grizzly Bear ( Ursus horribilis ) , grissly gray, grizzly 
horrid , is the largest and most ferocious of its kind, as well 
as the strongest and most formidable animal of this continent. 
The name was given to it by Mackenzie, in 1801 ; nothing 
satisfactory was known of it till the exploring party of Lewis 
and Clark in Oregon in 1805 met with it frequently, and left 
it in the hands of Say to describe scientifically. The descrip- 
tion of it given in the Jardin des Plantes , in Paris, states 
that “ it combines the ferocity of the jaguar with the courage 
of the tiger and the strength of the lion.” 
This bear is no less capable than the other species of sub- 
sisting on vegetables ; but the supposition of hunters, that it 
is wholly carnivorous, is easily accounted for, seeing it shows 
