American Black Bear. 



45 



AMEEICAN BLACK BEAE. (TJrsus Americanus.) 



THIS animal inhabits the Northern districts of America, 

 where it is found in considerable numbers. It is some- 

 what smaller than the Brown or European Bear ; its 

 colour of an uniform and glossy black. Its food consists 

 chiefly of fruits, the young shoots, and roots of vege- 

 tables and grain. In quest of these it occasionally emi- 

 grates from the northern to the more southern regions. 

 Their retreats, during the period of gestation, are so 

 impenetrable, that althongh immense numbers of Bears 

 are annually killed in America, a female is rarely found 

 among them. In autumn, when they are become exceed- 

 ingly fat by feeding on acorns and other similar food, 

 their flesh is extremely delicate, the hams in particular 

 are highly esteemed, and the fat is remarkably white 

 and sweet. At this time and during the winter, they 

 are hunted, and killed in great numbers by the Ameri- 

 can Indians. 



