One of the cubs was jet black, and the other of a light reddish-brown or bay color.

The hair of these variegated bears is much finer, longer, and more abundant than that of the common black bear; but the most striking differences between them are that the former are larger and have longer tusks, and longer as well as blunter talons; that they prey more on other animals; that they lie neither so long nor so closely in winter quarters; and that they never climb a tree, however closely pressed by the hunters.

These variegated bears, though specifically the same with those we met on the Missouri, are by no means so ferocious; probably because the scarcity of game and the habit of living on roots may have weaned them from the practices of attacking and devouring animals.

Still, however, they are not so passive as the common black bear, which is also to be found here; for they have already fought with our hunters, though with less fury than those on the other side of the mountains.
"A large part of the meat we gave to the Indians, to whom it was a real luxury, as they scarcely taste flesh once in a month.

They immediately prepared a large fire of dried wood, on which was thrown a number of smooth stones from the river.