Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/724

BEAR. spawn. In color this bear “varies greatly among individuals, being of various shades and combinations of dark and yellowish browns.” Dall's, or the Sitka Bear, seems separable from the Kadiak only by fine points of skull-structure. It inhabits the Alaskan coast country, between Copper River and Baranov Island. Both of these ‘species’ are regarded by some naturalists as local varieties of the Siberian race of brown bears, and by others as local races of the grizzly.

The Grizzly Bear of western North America is perhaps, on the average, the largest, and certainly is the most formidable of the family. It is justly regarded by sportsmen as the most dangerous beast in America, and at close quarters is the equal of any elsewhere in its reckless courage, muscular power, and ability for offense; the name horribilis, however, was a mere translation by Ord of his ‘grisly’ into Latin, and refers to color, not to character. When the mountain men speak of it as ‘Old Ephraim,’ they pay the respect of knowledge to power. Its range, before the encroachments of civilization, was northern Mexico to the Arctic Circle, and from the Pacific Coast eastward into the plains east of the Rockies as far as circumstances favored, probably as far as the great bison herds were wont to travel; but everywhere it preferred forests. It is still to be found throughout the higher parts of the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, increasing in frequency toward the north, and reaching its acme of both size and numbers in Alaska. The size varies greatly, but a length of 9 feet and a weight of 1000 pounds are given as dimensions reached by many specimens. Their color is equally variable, the typical form being described by Elliot as “usually brownish yellow, with a blackish dorsal stripe; mane reddish brown, darkest near tips of hairs, which are brownish yellow or brown; legs generally black or blackish brown.” Some specimens (‘silvertips’) are prevailingly light gray, due to the points of the hairs being white; others (‘cinnamons’) are warmly reddish, and others nearly coal black. Their habits and methods of life seem as diverse as their appearance and habitat.

These great bears hibernate little, if any, and are abroad by day as well as by night; range the heated plains or jungly valleys, or climb to the snowy peaks with equal ease. Often they go alone, but frequently travel in pairs or gather in small herds. One striking peculiarity, due, perhaps, to their great weight, is that they never climb trees, even as cubs. Nothing edible comes amiss as food. In former days they seized upon the stupid buffalo, and were able to vanquish even the heavy bulls by the weight and tearing power of their mighty paws, and in these days range-cattle are frequently destroyed; while those of the northwest coast region are expert in scooping up fish, and subsist largely on salmon and the like. All are fearless of water. Although so terrible when enraged, there is no evidence that the grizzly is more quarrelsome than other species; and the tales of an undying feud between it and the black bear or the puma are largely romances. The attitude of these bears toward mankind cannot be stated dogmatically, nor foreseen in any particular instance. They may quietly withdraw or run away in a panic (as the present writer has known them to do), or stand their

ground without aggression if let alone; on the other hand, many a man has lost his life by a totally unexpected and terrifically impetuous attack. Says J. H. Porter (Wild Beasts, 1894, p. 371), in a wise summary:

“No writer of any note except General Marcy has, as far as the author knows, denied that a grizzly bear soon comes to bay, and that he then devotes his energies to destruction with entire single-mindedness. Those who have met him, alike with those who have acquainted themselves with any completeness with the observations of others, know that this brute's patience under aggression is of the briefest, and his inherent ferocity easily aroused. When it is injured, the animal is exceptionally desperate, and fights from the first as a lion, tiger, and jaguar are apt to do only in their death rally. Colonel Dodge expresses the best opinions upon this point in saying that ‘when wounded, a grizzly bear attacks with the utmost ferocity, and regardless of the number and nature of his assailants. Then he is, without doubt, the most formidable and dangerous of wild beasts.’ ‘In some way it has come about,’ says Lockwood, ‘that. . . Bruin has secured for himself an almost superstitious respect.’ The way he did so has just been mentioned. Men had reason to fear him, and their veneration followed as a matter of course. It was because he proved ‘most formidable and dangerous’ that Schwatka found among the Chilkat Indians the highest clan called brown bears, and for a like reason the native warrior wore his claws as a badge of honor. Ferocity, prowess, and tenacity of life appear most conspicuously in accounts of actual conflict. Enough has been said with respect to the first-named trait, and no one ever called the others in question.” The Indians and early hunters captured the animal in pitfalls and very strong traps, or worried it to death by numerous shots. A single bullet fortunately planted in heart or brain may overcome it, but it has been known to survive many heavy balls. It remains one of the prime objects of sportsmen's ambition, and one of the most valuable prizes of the professional hunter, since its pelt, when in good condition, will bring a large price in the market.

These remarks apply in a greater or less degree to the Alaskan bears already mentioned, and to the Barren-ground Bear, a smaller, whitish-brown form inhabiting the treeless regions between Hudson Bay and the Coppermine River, whose separate specific identity is still subject to discussion.

The remains to be described. It is more widespread than any other in America, being found primitively wherever forests existed on the Continent north of Mexico. Civilization has restricted this area of residence; yet these bears remain wherever any considerable tracts of forest exist, and are frequently a pest to farmers by their forays upon the pig-sty and sheepfold. Their size varies, but never reaches the bigness of the grizzly; the color seems normally black, but varies through brown and reddish to yellow. Some so-called ‘cinnamon’ bears are of this species, and some are grizzlies. Their habits and food are closely similar to those of the European Brown Bear, with which some writers consider them specifically identical. They climb trees easily, are courageous, and may be very ugly customers when brought to bay, but are