number of horns which are found in various parts of the country, it is evident, that these animals were once very numerous. Their horns are of an astonishing size, measuring upwards of five feet from one extremity to the other. The Elk moves very slowly, and is rather inactive, and therefore unable to traverse the woods with that ease and celerity peculiar to the Fallow Deer; in consequence of which, great numbers of them were destroyed in the early settlement of the country.

The CARIBOU, or REIN DEER, distinguished by his branching palmated horns and brow antlers, is found in those parts of Lower Canada which border on the District of Maine. These, as well as every other animal of the Deer kind, feed on wild grass, and the leaves of the most mucilaginous shrubs. In winter, they subsist on nuts and berries, which they obtain by rooting up the snow with their antlers.

The American BEARS, Ursus Niger, differ very materially in their disposition from animals of the same kind on the old Continent. Unlike those ferocious monsters, they never attack man, unless when wounded, irritated by dogs, or in the protection of their young. They are, however, a great annoyance to the settlers in every part of Canada. In summer, they range along the edge of the woods, bordering on the settlements, for the purpose of watching the herds of swine, as they enter the forests in quest of nuts, and not unfrequently destroy great numbers of the

grunting race. When a herd of swine is attacked, all the members of it unite, and form a circle, of which their heads are the various and close points of the circumference. Thus they present a formidable and compact frontier to their enemies the bears, which are frequently compelled to sound a temporary retreat from the field of action. But the assailants are generally successful, except when they have to encounter the tremendous tusks and Herculean jaws of aged hogs, which deal destruction on the fiercest adversaries. Two bears are more than a match for a hundred young hogs; and, in a single night, they sometimes destroy a sufficient number to satisfy their desires for a month. It is natural to suppose that animals so injurious to the Canadian farmer, whose greatest source of wealth and comfort is chiefly derived from his flocks and herds, should become an object of public as well as private hostility. But there is another motive by which the Canadians are induced to exert themselves in the destruction of as many of these swine-devourers as they can. The value of their skins, which are worth from five to seven dollars each, and the excellent quality of their flesh, which is said to be superior to the finest pork, are inducements by which many a sportsman who has neither flocks nor herds to protect, is led to engage in the chace. The oil which the fat of the bear produces, is also very valuable, and accounted by the American Quacks, to be an infallible assau ger of all pains, particularly such as are of a rheu

matic nature. A full grown bear often weighs 400 lbs., and is estimated, skin and oil included, to be worth at least 20 dollars.-In the early part of winter, these animals take up their abode in the trunks of large hollow trees, where they continue without nourishment of any kind until the succeeding spring. If, in the beginning of the winter, snow falls previous to a severe frost, many of them are traced to their winter quarters, from which in such cases they seldom escape with life. This kind of hunting is, however, like every other in America, a very dangerous and disagreeable employment. The bears frequently run 40 or 50 miles into the interior, in quest of a suitable asylum for the winter; and by this means their pursuers are led into the wilderness, where the snow sometimes leaves them before they have obtained the object of their pursuit. The weather, at that season of the year, is very much clouded, and liable to sudden and unexpected changes; and the huntsman, who leaves home with good tracing, intending to return upon his own track, is often compelled to find his way back as he can, without the possibility of retracing his steps. Pitiable, indeed, is the case of him who, in such circumstances, is without a compass by which to steer his course, or a sun to direct his path!

LETTER XI.

THE TRACKS OF THREE BEARS THE PLACE OF THEIR RETREAT -PRECAUTION IN FELLING THE TREE-DEATH OF ONE OF THE BEARS-FALL OF THE TREE IN WHICH THEY LAY-TWO SETTLERS PROCEED IN

PURSUIT OF THEM THEIR ADVENTURES

AND PRIVATIONS DURING THIRTEEN DAYS THEIR SAFE RETURN, &c.

A REMARKABLE instance of the disastrous sort of hunting, to which I have alluded in the preceding letter, occurred in the London District, in the winter of 1822. One of my father's settlers, of the name of Howay, discovered the tracks of three bears on the morning of the 11th December, and, after following them for about three miles, came to the tree in which they had taken up their quarters. Having his dog, his gun, and his axe with him, he began to cut down the tree, the trunk of which was at least 16 feet in circumference. Whilst engaged in this employment, he occasionally directed his eyes upward, to see if his motions disturbed the bears in the place of their retreat: He became at length weary of acting as sentry to the prisoners, and had nearly forgotten this needful precaution, when, in the midst of his hewing, a large piece of bark

struck him on the head. This aroused his attention; and, on looking again, he discovered, to his great consternation, one of the bears descending the tree, in the usual manner,-tail foremost. Apprehensive that he might be attacked by his black friend, which he perceived was coming down with every appearance of hostility, he laid down his axe, and, taking up his gun, resolved to discharge its contents in the body of Bruin. Upon reflection, however, he desisted; for he was afraid, if he should only wound the animal, his own life would be the forfeit of his eager temerity. While he was thus deliberating, his dog perceived the bear, then only a few yards from the ground, and by his barking, alarmed the brute so much that he ran up the tree with inconceivable swiftness. On arriving at the opening into the trunk, he turned himself about, and, looking down attentively, surveyed the dog and his master. Howay now regretted, that he had not called upon some of his neighbours to assist him; but, being afraid that if he should then go for any one, the party would in the mean time effect their escape, he rallied his courage, and, resuming his gun, lodged a ball in the bear's neck, which, fortunately, brought him lifeless to the ground. Victory generally inspires the conqueror with fresh courage, and is seldom the fore-runner of caution. The conduct of Howay, however, affords an exception to a rule so generally acknowledged; for, instead of being elated by his success, and stimulated to pursue his con