THE GAME ANIMALS OF CANADA 109 
for its spirit of curiosity in the doings of human intruders 
into its haunts. 
Black bears usually mate about June or July, and they 
part a little later. The young are born in January, while 
the mother is still in her winter den, which may be a natural 
cavity in the rocks, under a fallen tree or its upturned roots, 
or even in a hole dug by the bear herself. Usually two cubs 
are born, but three are not uncommon. The newly born 
cub is remarkably small. It measures about eight inches 
long and weighs from nine to twelve ounces. When the 
spring sun melts the snow and ice in the woods the mother 
leaves her winter quarters and sallies forth with her young 
family, than which no more interesting or amusing young- 
sters can be found in the whole realm of wild life. The 
brown or cinnamon-coloured bear is merely a colour-variety 
of the black bear. In the same litter of cubs one may find 
both black and brown varieties. 
For some time in the spring the black bear subsists largely 
on roots of various plants, supplemented by an occasional 
mouse or insect, for it is omnivorous to a degree. Insects 
constitute a large part of their diet. In the spring and 
early summer bears frequenting lakes and streams feed 
extensively on May-flies and shad-flies. Hearne states that 
they may catch these insects by swimming with their mouths 
- open, and he found their stomachs filled with these insects. 
As summer wears on they hunt out the nests of bees and 
rob the accumulated stores of honey or brood. In the hunt 
for such delicacies their ability to climb trees stands them 
in good stead. Nor do they hesitate to attack any wasps’ 
or hornets’ nests. The nests of ants are sought in rotting 
logs or under stones, etc., and the ants and larve are greedily 
devoured. 
Where fish can be obtained they are very acceptable, 
and the black bears in British Columbia are especially fa- 
voured by the large quantities of salmon that they are able 
