100 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



round their yard ; and when they cannot come 

 at the grass, they live on the twigs and bark of 

 the trees. Their defence is chiefly with their 

 fore feet, with which they strike with great 

 force. The female is less than the male, and 

 generally without horns. The rutting season is 

 in autumn : The female generally brings forth 

 two at a birth, in the month of April, which 

 follow the dam a whole year. One of these 

 animals in Vermont, was found by measure, to 

 be seven feet high. The largest, are estimated 

 by the hunters, to weigh thirteen or fourteen 

 hundred pounds. 



The Bear is frequently to be met with in 

 this part of America, and is always of a black 

 colour. It is not an animal of the most fierce, 

 and carnivorous disposition. There have been 

 instances, in which children have been devoured 

 by the bear ; but it is only when it is much ir- 

 ritated, or suffering with hunger, that it makes 

 any attack upon the human race. At other 

 times, it will destroy swine and young cattle^ 

 but has not been known to make any attack up* 

 on men ; but always aims to avoid their pursuit. 

 The food of this animal is corn, sweet apples, 

 acorns, and nuts. In the end of autumn, the 

 bear is generally very fat, and chooses for the 

 place of his retreat the hollow of a rotten tree, 

 or some natural den, or cavern in the earth. In 

 such a situation he uses no exercise, appears to 

 be asleep, loses but little by respiration, and is 

 always found without any provision ; and it is 

 not until the warmth of the spring returns, that 

 he leaves his retreat, or goes abroad in quest of 

 food. This animal is valuable for its fiesh, 



