fyi} qtfl 



IN the- northern part of the American continent, the subter- 

 raneous retreats of the black bear may be easily found by the 

 mist "which uniformly hangs about the entrance of the den, as 

 the animal's heat and breathing prevent the mouth of the cave 

 from being entirely closed, however deep the snow may be. 

 As the black bear usually retires to his winter quarters before 

 any quantity of snow has fallen, and does not again venture 

 abroad till the end of March or the beginning of April, he 

 therefore spends at least four months in a state of torpidity, 

 and without obtaining food. It is therefore not very surpris- 

 ing, though the bear goes into his winter quarters excessively 

 502 



