102 The Black Bear, — Ursus Americamis. 



tracts of the forest, yet it does not appear miieli to dread the appearance of 

 man. When mot accidentally iu the woods they evince no inclination to 

 attack, and neither do they often shew any fear. Both parties, the man and 

 the bear, appear on such occasions satisfied to pa.ss on without quarrelling, 

 unless indeed the former be armed. The females are strongly attached to 

 their young, and are dangerous to be approached while these remain under 

 their protection. 



The winter retreat in the colder regions of Xorth America is a hollow 

 tree, a cleft in the rocks, or any place that may afford shelter. The animal 

 retires to his den at the first fall of the snow, and where his lair is situated 

 on the ground, as for instance under a fallen tree, the quantity of hoar frost 

 accumulated around the breathing hole through the snow betrays him to the 

 hunter. A^'Tien they retire in the commencement of winter they are exceed- 

 ingly fat, and what is very remarkable when they fii^st leave their dens in 

 the spring they are also fat, but in a few days thereafter become very lean. 

 In Godmau's Natural History it is stated that " in the north the flesh of the 

 black bear is fittest for the table about the middle of July when the berries 

 begin to ripen, though some berries impart a very disagreeable flavour to 

 their flesh. They remain in good condition to the following January or 

 February. Their flesh is rendered rank and disagreeable by feeding on her- 

 ring spawn, which they seek and devour with greediness whenever it is to be 

 obtained. The Southern Indians kill great numbers of these bears at all 

 seasons of the year, but no inducement can be ofiered to prevent them singeing 

 oft the hair of all that are in good condition for eating, as the flesh of the 

 bear is as much spoiled by skinning as pork would be, the skins these people 

 bring the traders are consequently only such as are obtained from bears that 

 are too poor to be eaten. 



" In the vicinity of Hudson's Bay the black bear has been observed to 

 feed entirely on water insects dm-ing the mouth of June, when the berries 

 are not ripe. These insects of diflerent species are found in astonishing 

 quantities in some of the lakes, where, iDeing diiven by gales of wind in the 

 bays and pressed together in vast multitudes, they die and cause an intole- 

 rable stench by their putrefaction, as they lie iu some places two or three feet 

 deep. The bear swims with his mouth open and thus gathers the insects on 

 the surface of the water ; when the stomach of the animal is opened at this 

 season it is found to be filled with them, and emits a verv disagreeable stench. 

 They are even believed to feed upon those which die and are washed ashore. 

 The flesh of the animal is spoiled by this diet, though individuals killed at a 

 distance from the water are agreeably flavoured at the same season of the 

 year. 



" The black bear is in fact very indiscriminate in his feeding, and though 

 suited by nature for the almost exclusive consumption of vegetable food, yet 

 refuses scarcely anything when pressed by hunger. He is moreover voraci- 

 ous as well as indiscriminate in satisfying his appetite, and frequently gorges 

 until his stomach loaths and rejects its contents. He seeks with great assi- 

 duity for the larvee or grub worms of various insects, and exerts a surprising 



