148 BULLETIN NO VII. 



ings" and upland prairies allure the bear from his seclusion. 

 Raspberries are especially esteemed and low cherry trees are 

 broken down and the small berries greedily eaten. Like the 

 raccoon, the bear sometimes makes inroads upon the corn-fields 

 breaking down and otherwise destroying much more than is 

 eaten or carried away Later in the season grapes, acorns and 

 various nuts are eaten. In the east and south bears were not 

 infrequently encountered while breaking off the boughs of nut- 

 bearing trees or "lopping"' as it is, in some sections, termed. 



During the winter, especially at the north, animal food of a 

 necessity supplants, to a considerable extent at least, all other, 

 and it is then that depredations upon the barn-yard may be ex- 

 pected. Pigs, calves and even larger animals are carried away. 

 It is stated that on the coast bears frequently feed largely 

 upon fish. Bruin certainly is not afraid of water and swims 

 easily and is no mean antagonist to a party of boatmen. The 

 venturesome boat that approaches too near is frequently cap- 

 sized by the heavy beast. During the frightful forest fires 

 which prevail at the north it is not unusual for men who fly to 

 mid-stream for refuge from the terrible heat to be beseiged by 

 a bear, which craves only the privilege of resting upon the 

 boat, but who is not safely to be allowed that demand. The 

 craving for sweets is a well known characteristic of all bears. 

 The natural supply is furnished by the nests of the humble -bee, 

 or the stores which wild bees lay away in hollows of trees. A 

 "bee-tree" is very adroitly emptied by Bruin, who cares little 

 for the stings and angry buzzing of the proprietors. 



The lumbering gait of the bear is deceptive ; he really is 

 capable of a high degree of speed, and avails himself of flight 

 when attacked by man, unless wounded or deprived of the 

 young. Unlike the grizzly bear, our species climbs volun- 

 tarily, and very generally betakes itself to a tree when har- 

 rassed by dogs. In other cases, or if close hauled, he rises 

 upon his hind feet, placing his back against any convenient 

 object, and assumes the defensive ; in which case dogs and men 

 do well to carry on warfare at a distance. The quality in a dog 

 most to be desired is not courage, for no number of dogs are a 

 match for a bear. 



Our animal is a great lover of ease, and spends much of its 

 time in warm weather in wallowing in the mud or sleeping in 

 a retired haunt. In the far north bears hibernate during much 

 of the winter, which they are said to pass in the mild pleasure 

 of licking their paws. It is doubtful if any great amount of 



