282 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



conspicuous massiveness of the hinder parts, which gives a peculiar 

 shape to the body ; plantigrade gait, and the habit of erecting the 

 body and standing upon the hind-feet when attacked or in combat. 

 The feet, especially the paws, are armed with long, sharp claws, not 

 retractile, nor so much crooked as are those of the feline tribe, never- 

 theless capable of inflicting terrible wounds when impelled by the 

 powerful force which the bear can exert. The bear is both carnivo- 

 rous and vegetarian, and will apparently thrive on either a purely ani- 

 mal or vegetable diet. It is a gregarious animal, extremely sociable, 

 subject to strong attachments for its mate and young, and, in a state 

 of domestication, for man. Most of the species are good climbers, and 

 all are good swimmers. Excepting a few species, it is a singularly 

 harmless animal while undisturbed, but is ferocious and dangerous 

 when attacked, or when defending its young. Its sagacity, strength, 

 and surprising tenacity of life, render it a formidable combatant. It 

 is remarkably adroit in guarding itself against the blows of an an- 

 tagonist, and will ward off even the heaviest with wonderful dex- 

 terity. In combat, it rears upon the hind-feet and strikes power- 

 fully with its paws ; it also endeavers to crush the body of its an- 

 tagonist by hugging, and will at the same time inflict fearful wounds 

 with the claws of its hind-feet. Although so ferocious when aroused 

 to anger, it is (excepting the polar and the grizzly) easily domesti- 

 cated, and makes a most affectionate and amusing pet. One of the 

 most curious characteristics of the bear is its habit of hibernating 

 through the winter. During the autumn it becomes very fat, and, 

 about the end of October, completing its winter house, ceases feeding 

 for the year. A remarkable phenomenon then takes place in the ani- 

 mal's digestive organs. The stomach, no longer supplied with food, 

 contracts into a very small space. A mechanical obstruction called 

 the " tappen," composed of fine leaves, or other extraneous substances, 

 blocks the alimentary canal, and prevents the outward passage of any 

 matter. The bear continues in its den until the middle of April, in a 

 dull, lethargic condition. If discovered and killed at any time in this 

 period, it is found to be as fat as at the beginning. It is said, how- 

 ever, that, if it loses the " tappen " before the end of its hibernation, 

 it immediately becomes extremely thin. During the hibernation the 

 bear gains a new skin upon the balls of its feet, and, during the same 

 time also, the female brings forth her young, from two to four in num- 

 ber. The latter act occurs generally from the middle of January to 

 the middle of February. The pairing season occurs in the summer, 

 from June to September. The period of gestation is about seven 

 months, and the newly-born cubs are scarcely larger than puppies. 



The visitor to Central Park, who walks along the corridor east of 

 the Museum building, cannot fail to be struck with the grizzly bear 

 (Ursus horribilis, or U~. ferox). His mixed brownish and steely-gray 

 coat, great size, massive proportions, and, above all, his ferocious as- 



