WESTERN WILD SPORTS. 
187 
gantic in size and terrific in aspect, he unites to a ferociously 
blood-thirsty disposition, a surpassing strength of limb, which 
gives him undisputed supremacy over every other quadruped 
tenant of the wilderness, and causes man himself to tremble at 
his approach, though possessed of weapons unknown to any but 
the human race. To the Indians the very name of Grizzly 
Bear is dreadful, and the killing of one is esteemed equal to a 
great victory; the white hunters are almost always willing to 
avoid an encounter with so powerful an adversary, and seldom 
or never wantonly provoke his anger. 
“ This formidable animal unhesitatingly pursues and attacks 
men or animals, when excited by hunger or passion, and slaugh¬ 
ters indiscriminately every creature whose speed or artifice is 
not sufficient to place them beyond his reach. 
“ However singular it may appear that an animal endowed 
with such a fondness for destruction and blood, can exist alto¬ 
gether on vegetable food, it is a fact that the Grizzly Bear, no 
less than all other species belonging to the same genus, is ca¬ 
pable of subsisting exclusively on roots and fruits ; this may be 
inferred from the peculiarity of their dentition. It is by no 
means surprising that hunters and travellers should suppose the 
Grizzly Bear to be almost wholly carnivorous, seeing that he 
displays such an unappeasable ferocity of disposition, and so 
uniform an eagerness to destroy the life of any animal that falls 
within his power. 
“ This Bear at present inhabits the country adjacent to the 
eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, where it frequents the 
plains, or resides in the copses of wood which skirt along the 
margin of water courses. There is some reason to believe that 
the Grizzly Bear ©nee inhabited the Atlantic regions of the 
United States, if we may be allowed to form any inference from 
traditions existing among the Delaware Indians, relative to the 
Big Naked Bear which formerly existed on the banks of the 
Hudson. The venerable Heckewelder informs us that Indian 
mothers used to frighten their children into quietness by speak¬ 
ing to them of this animal. 
