1068 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



NUMBER The cubs are usually 2 in number; occasionally there is 



but I, especially if it be the mother's first litter; 3 are common, 

 and 4 have been recorded several times. 



The Lodge record above referred to runs thus; 



1892, Jan. 23. One male cub, found dead. 



1893, Jan. 24. Two males and one female. 



1894, No cubs born, owing to young of previ- 

 ous year having run with mother 

 throughout the summer. 



1895, Jan. 23. One male and one female. 



1896, Jan. 24. Two males and one female. 



1897, One male (exact date of birth not no- 



ticed, but between January 21 and 

 27). 



1898, Jan. 24. One male and one female. 



1899, Jan. 27. Three males. 



1900, No cubs born, as young of previous year 



had run with the mother during the 

 summer. 



1901, Jan. 26. Two males and one female. 



1902, No cubs born. 



1903, Jan. 21. Two males and one female. 



This valuable record proves, among other interesting things, 

 that the wild mother Bear breeds only every other year, unless 

 she has the misfortune to lose her family early in the season. 



At birth the cub is blind and is covered with a fine, close 

 dark hair, so thin that it is practically naked. 



In all cases observed the mother has hovered and brooded 

 over the young for six or eight weeks, covering them as anx- 

 iously as though a single breath of cold air would be their 

 certain and sudden death, as doubtless it might under their 

 natural conditions in certain parts of the range. 



A litter of young Blackbears was born in the Brooklyn 

 Zoo in 1899, and the keeper, Edward Walsh, wrote:" "The 



^ Forest and Stream, Fcbruan,- 4, iSgg, p. 84. 



