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URSUS AMERICANUS, (Pallas). 



THE BLACK BEAR. 



Specific Character. — Size small. Feet moderate. Fore claws not twice as 

 lono^ as hinder. Colour entirely uniform throughout, either black or brownish ; the 

 hairs darkest towards the tips. 



Habitat. — North America from Mexico to Hudson's Bay, common in Ontario. 



Average Size. — Equal to that of a very large Newfoundland dog, although it 

 appears to be larger on account of its long soft coat, which is very thick. 



Average Weight. — 200 to 300 pounds. 



Average Height. — 3 feet. 



Average Length. — 4 J feet. 



Value of Fur. — Per skin, average, $5 to $25. 



The black bear is abundant in Ontario, and is easily distinguished on account 

 of his bright black colour. 



The black bear is held by some authorities to be distinct from the cinnamon 

 bear, but experienced hunters assert that they have found both black and cinnamon 

 cubs in the one litter, and beyond the fact that the colours differ, no distinctions 

 appear to have been established. 



The muzzle of the black bear is tan in colour, and very often a white mark is 

 found on the throat. This animal is shy and rarely seeks an encounter with man, 

 but when cornered or forced to fight becomes at once fierce and dangerous. 



The black bear is little given to animal food, and unless pressed by hunger 

 will restrict itself to vegetable diet. In the fall of the year he is at his best ; the 

 ripe nuts and berries on which he fattens, and the wild honey of which he is inor- 

 dinately fond, and which by his strong power of scent he readily finds in hollow 

 trees, providing luxurious food. 



In the winter he hibernates, and it is probably owing to the difl[iculty expe- 

 rienced by the hunter in finding the winter quarters, that the bear is not more 

 regularly hunted. 



The breeding season occurs in July, the young are born in February, two or 

 three being produced at a time. 



The flesh of the bear is palatable and freely eaten, and this not only by hun- 

 ters. The carcass of the black bear forms one of the staple attractions of the 

 butcher's stall at Christmas time, and commands a ready sale. 



The fat of the bear is largely used as an article of commerce, and is generally 

 manufactured into pomatum. 



The fur is very valuable for robe purposes, and the demand for it is constantly 

 on the increase. 



When born the cubs are of a gray hue, and this colour they retain for the first 

 year of their lives, after which the light hue gives place to the coat of glossy 

 black. The coat is shed twice a year in spring and autumn. 



