BEARS GREASE. .:;: 



once ao common in New York that Beur Market wan the name given to one place that made a 



-:- . i:i ';. nl (lie in. -at 



Tills Bear's habitat range* frum the northern portion of the Continent to Mexi>. In 

 California it i- i.-pla.-.tl b\ the Grizzly Hear. 



Tip- fat of ill.- I'.. .11 1-. as is well known, considered an an infallible specific fur increasing 

 the growth of the hair and promoting ita gloat*, and i* re a valuable an mineroe. 



Tin- onh | Niriii >n .if tin- fat that is legitimately empl<>\. -I for this pur|osc is ih,. hanl white 

 fat which is f,. tin.i in tin- interior <>f tin- !>.1\. As might be expected from the enormoas 

 aiiioiiiit <>f titular Uear's grease" which ia annually consumed, but a very small pn>|>ortion 

 (f the .substance which is called by that name has ,.\,-, f,,rmed part of a Bear's person. The 



reps in to make x<\ the deli. -i. -n< -\ . an<l the greater portion of the material w hi.-h is nold 

 under the name of I lear's grease, i.sin reality n-. tiling n\r>- nor less than hog's lard, colored and 



d in order to charm the eye and nostrils of th.-piircha.ser. Tin-re is y.-t another use to 

 which the fat of the Bear ia put, which will be presently mention.sl. 



The chase of the Musiuaw, or Black Bear, is an extremely dangerous one, and there are 

 Imt very f.-w 1'M-ar hunters, however dexterous they may be, who do not in the .-n-l succumb t. 

 t||,- claw- ami teeth of one , ,f tfMM ]*! !"ul .imnriU Alt li..iij!i it is n.itmalU .1 pgfj >|ui.-t 

 and retiring creature, keeping it.self aloof fnmi mankiml, and never venturing near his haunts 

 except wh.-n incited by the pangs of fierce hunger, it is a truly ferocious beast when hemmed 

 in by its antagonists, and all hope of escape cut off. Seated erect, with its eyelwlls darting fury. 

 its ears laid , l,-s.-l\ UIM>II ita head, ita tongue lolling out of ita mouth, and every gesture glow- 

 ing with fierce energy, it presents a sight that Is sufficient to unnerve any l>ut an e\|M-ri.-nsl 

 hunter, who baa learned by long practice to preserve a cool demeanor under the most exciting 

 circumstances. Horses are almost useless at such a juncture, for unless they have U-en most 

 carefully trained t<> the task, they are seized with such mental terror at the sight an.l scent of 

 the infuriate animal that they give way to their frantic fears, and become wholly unman- 

 ageable by their rider. Aa the Bear .stands, or rather sits at bay, it deals such terrible and 

 rapid blows with ita ready paws that it strikes down the attacking dogs aa if they w. 

 many rabbits, and ever and anon makes a furious charge at its enemies. Nothing but a i ill'- 

 ball seems to check the creature when it is wrought up to this pitch of fury, for even the 



severest w,,un-ls f|..m a kliif.- Seem, mil--- th--\ i.-:i.-li tii.- li.-alt. ! li;i\,- ,li!\ ft* .-iT.-.-t '>f 



.-\-iting the animal to more furious rage. 



The Musquaw has a curious habit of treading frequently in the same path, so that after a 

 little time it makes out for it^-lf .-.-rtain roads, which are easily detected by the practiced eye 

 of the hunter, and often lead to the destruction of the animal which trod them. 



During the month of June the Bears are very thin, and their flesh is considered to be of no 

 value whatever ; so that they enjoy a short period of unmolested ease. Aa they are especially 

 fierce at this time of the year, the hunters have a double reason for keeping aloof from the 

 animals which they persecute with a deadly pertinacity throughout the other portions of the 

 year. Tln-ir ]-.-nliar ferocity at this time is attributable to th<- fact that the male Bears are 

 engaged in seeking their mates, and when it happens, as is often the cae, that two or more 

 males take a fancy to the same female, they fight for the desired prize with unrelenting fury. 



As is the case with the Bears which have already been mentioned, the Black Bear ia in the 

 habit of passing the cold months of winter in some comfortable residence which it has prepared 

 in the course of the summer. Practical hunters, however, remark that unl.-*s the Bear is 

 exceedingly fat at the commen-ment of the cold season, it does not venture to betake itoelf to 

 its winter home, but gets through the winter w ithut hybernation. 



This species- ( .f Near is remarkably prolific, the numU-r of cubs which an- produced at a 

 birth being from one to four. When newly born they are very small. N-ing only six or eiirht 

 inches in length, and covered with gray hair. Tin- month in which they make th.-ir entr\ into 

 the world is either January or February, and they remain under strict maternal control until 

 they are six months of age. For the HIM \.-ar ..f their existence the fur continues to retain 

 the gray hue, but when they reach their second year the liirht-hued hair gives place to the 

 glossy black coat w hi. h distinguishes the Musquaw. They shed their coat twice in the year : 



