Note 12 — Chapter VIII

The grizzly bear is unquestionably a ferocious and sanguinary animal, and is so much dreaded by the Indians and traders, that it is not surprising they should give currency to endless fables and exaggerations concerning it. But we cannot avoid a feeling of surprise, mingled with some mortification, to find respectable and intelligent travellers repeating, as actually true, statements of the habits of our animals, which a very slight effort of reason would show to be utterly absurd. Here we have A BEAR, the largest species known, coursing after men in packs, and yelping like hounds! when we have not on record, evidence, perhaps, of more than thirty of these animals having been seen since the existence of the species was discovered; nor the slightest evidence that any bear ever uttered any other sound than a low harsh growl!—T.