V. 



THE BLACK BEAR OF CALIFORNIA. 



Ursus Calif orniensis. 



This bear we will label for convenience 

 Ursus Calif orniensis, because the title of 

 Ursus Americanus has dignified the small 

 black bear of the Eastern states. There 

 are, however, three species of the black 

 bear in California that are known, and 

 there may be more. The large black bear of 

 California reaches very large proportions. 

 I have seen some that might weigh from 800 

 to 1,000 pounds. It is hunted for its fur, 

 which is uniform in color, and for its flesh, 

 which is quite good, either smoked or fresh. 

 This animal will never seek an encounter 

 with man. I remember my original intro 

 duction to a bear of this species. It was 

 in the state of Washington. Owing to ill 

 health I had been staying at what is known 

 there as a ranch. A ranch in the western 



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