The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-07-23
Strange Instinct Of tho Deer,

The American panther has one inyotgrnte
and deadly foct ihe biuth hear, Some Of
these immense bears weigh 500 pounds and
t'eir skin is so tough that musket ball will
nOi penelrite Il. A. the panther invariably
destrnys all the young cubs which come in
her path 80 does the Bear take great pains a.
attack The Panther, and fortunate indeed Z,
the animal who escapes the deadly embrace,
Of the black monster, The following excl
ting and interesting scene Ia related by an
eye witness
a large deer vas running NJ nm speed
closely pufsuud by panther The chase had
already been q long one for % they came
nearer ! could see both their long parched
tongues hanging out Of their mouths, and
their bounding, though powerful Was 30 lon
ger elastic as usual, The deer having ,dis-
covered In the distance large black bear
playing with her cubs, stopped moment TO
snuff the air, then coming near he made q
bound, with his head extended, 10 ascertain
II bruin still kept his position. "A the pan
ther was closing with him the deer wheeled
sharp around, and turning back almost upon
his own trail, passed within thirty yards uf
his pursuer, Who not being able a. onceIQ
stop bio career, gave an angry groW aud fol-
lowed the deer again, but az distance Of
some hundred yards hearing the gruwl, the
NfNl NINW llNI NhAl lANl wv ~ Wv HH'Nf' ~
romlinng quietly on the look out, soon
the deer again appeared but his speed was
much roduced-und az ho approached to-
ward the spot whore the bear lay concealed,
il was evident that the animal was calcula.
ting the distance with admirable precision.
The panther now expected TO seize his
prey easily, followed about thirty yards be-
hind, his eyes so iulcntly fixed upon the deer
that be did not see the bear NJ oil, Not 30
with hruin She Was aware Of the close ,iCi-
nifty Of her enemy, and she cleared the briers
and squared herself for action, when the deer,
with q beautiful and powerful spring
passed completely over the bears head, aud
disappeared, At the moment he took th"
leap the panther was close upon him, aud
was just balancing himself for a spriug Whru
he perceived to his astouishmcnt that hc WAS
faced hy formidable adversary Not the
least disposed 10 ny, be crouchcd iashiag his
sides With hi, lorR tail, while the bear, about
five Yards from him. remained like u statue,
looking q, him with his fierce glaring eyes,
For minute they remained thus, the pan.
theirs sides hra,ing with cxrrtion. agitn,cd,
and apparently undecided, the bear perfectly
calm and motoulcss., Gradually the panther
crawlcd backward til at q right distance idr
a spring, then throwing oil his weight upon
his hind parts 20 increase his power hc dart,
ed upon 10, h,arlkc lightning, and forced
his claws into her back. The bear with iiir-
,l,tihlc force seized the panther With her two
fore paws, pressed him with the weight of
her body and rolled over him. ! heard
heavy gruut, a pluiuii,u howl, "a crashing OF
bonye, and the pauihcrwas Grad. The cub
OF the bear came To ascertain what was going
on, and after few minutes examination ui
the victim, it struttcd down the hin followed
by It's mother, who VAS apparently uuhurt
! did not attempt ,!1 ,prs'EW JlGy tdEiGTs'a
feeling which restrain, them from attacking
an animal which has just undergone a dcadl,
strife.