THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR 



607 



pigs, and poultry." Another writer, Mr. C. C.Ward, states, as thefresult of his own 

 experience, that the black bear "is growing more carnivorous and discontented with 

 a diet of herbs. Assuredly, he is growing bolder. He is also developing a propen- 

 sity to destroy more than he can eat, and it is not improbable that his posterity may 

 cease to be frugi-carnivorous. It is fortunate that an animal of the strength and 

 ferocity which he displays when aroused seldom attacks man. The formation of his 

 powerful jaws and terrible canine teeth are well adapted to seize and hold his prey, 

 and his molars are strong enough to crush the bones of an ox. His great strength, 

 however, lies in his fore-arms and paws. His mode of attacking his prey is not to 

 seize it with his teeth, but to strike terrific blows with his fore-paws. His weakness is 



AMERICAN BI,ACK: BEAR. 

 (One-sixteenth natural size.) 



for pork, and to obtain it he will run any risk. When the farmers, after suffering 

 severe losses at his hands, become unusually alert, he retires to the depths of the 

 forest and solaces himself with a young moose, caribou, or deer. He seldom or 

 never attacks a full-grown moose, but traces of desperate encounters, in which the 

 cow-moose has battled for her offspring, are frequently met with in the woods." 

 Dr. Merriam states that the black bears visit the Adirondacks from the wooded dis- 

 tricts about twenty miles to the westward in Lewis county during the autumn, 

 crossing a fertile and well-cultivated valley. They are good climbers, but, from 

 their weight are unable to ascend to the tree tops or climb far out on the branches, 

 although they will ascend straight stems for a considerable height after honey. 

 They are also excellent swimmers, many being killed while swimming in the lakes. 



