MAMMALS OF MINNESOTA. 147 



Perhaps it is not at present allowable to claim with much as- 

 surance the existence of more than a single very variable spe- 

 cies and a number of rather indefinite sub-species. 



The distinguishing characters are osteological or external, 

 and the two sets by no means vary coetaneously. 



During the winter of 1880-81, some twenty black bears were 

 brought into Little Falls, Morrison Co., their skins being 

 worth from ten to fifteen dollars (Upham). 



A cinnamon bear is said to have been killed near Watab in 

 1884. 



Although so clumsy in appearance, the black bear is pos- 

 sessed of great strength and, especially, remarkable endurance. 

 As the largest beast of prey found in our state, it exacts an al- 

 lowance of respect, not to say fear, hardly commensurate to 

 its peaceable and ease- loving disposition. At the time of the 

 early explorations in Minnesota, bears appear to have been 

 numerous and very frequently seen. The Indian, very 

 naturally with his less effective weapons, found the bear a 

 more formidable enemy than the European hunter, and this 

 may account for the part the bear plays in Indian mythology 

 and legendary lore. The habits vary with the time and place 

 greatly and the strength of the animal is supplemented by con- 

 siderable adroitness which Indian belief and hunters' imagin- 

 ation have exaggerated to a high degree of cunning. The deft- 

 ness with which the anterior extremities are used always gives 

 us the impression of the human skill which accompanies such 

 motions in man, so that we tend to exaggerate the mental 

 powers of such animals as have the power of pronation, etc., 

 and to underestimate the intelligence which is restricted to 

 other ways of expression. There is but one bear which is en- 

 tirely carnivorous, the Ursus arctos, and in this case necessity 

 is the evident cause of the departure from the otherwise uni- 

 versal omnivorous habit. 



In summer the black bear rarely or never seeks animal food, 

 although it is by no means refused if at hand. In spring and 

 summer the moist, shady borders of pools and rivers afford 

 both suitable food and covert, while impenetrable swamps and 

 wet woods furnish secure retreats during the heat of mid-sum- 

 mer. Succulent roots and almost any vegetable materials are 

 appropriated, while crawfish, and perhaps other small animals, 

 are said to supplement this diet. Nettles and even the Indian 

 turnip (Arumtriphyllum) are delicacies in the cuisine of our 

 Bruin. In late summer the various berries growing in ' 'open- 



