io6 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Though persistently hunted and valued for his fur, as well 

 as an article of food, the coon seems to hold his own. He goes 

 about at night and during the day retires to his den dug out 

 among the roots of some old tree or under a rock. During severe 

 weather they retire to their burrows and sleep until the tempera- 

 ture moderates. 



Procyon lotor Abbott, Cook.'s Geol. of N. J., 1868, p. 754. — 

 Abbott, A Naturalist. 's Rambles, 1885, p. 448. — Beesley, Geol. 

 Cape May Co., 1857, P- 13 7- — Rhoads, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. 

 Phila., 1897, p. 31. — Rhoads, Mam. Pa, and N. J., 1903, p. 182. 



Family URSID^. 

 Bears. 

 Only one species of this well known family occurs in the State. 



Genus Ursus Linnaeus. 

 Typical Bears. 



Ursus americanus Pallas. 



Black Bear. 



Plate 55. 



Length, 5 feet. Color black, with a brownish tinge on the 

 face. The general build of the bear, its short tail and planti- 

 grade walk are well known. 



Black Bears, except under extraordinary circumstances, are in 

 great fear of man and make every effort at escape or conceal- 

 ment when danger in this form menaces them. Their food 

 consists almost entirely of nuts, berries and such insects, mice, 

 etc., as they can dig out from stumps or catch from under over- 

 turned logs; occasionally, however, they will kill sheep or pigs 

 if forced by hunger to trespass upon clearings or farm land. 

 Wild bees' nests are their delight, for honey they prefer to any 

 other food. Young bears are curious little naked creatures, ex- 

 ceedingly small for the size of the parent. They are born in the 



