BEARS. 40 



their terrible paws, singling out their victim, and seizing 

 it from the midst of many others, not heeding numbers. 

 They have a great propensity to bury bodies, and have 

 been known to cover hunters who have been asleep with 

 bark, grass, and leaves. 



When the bears have retired to their caves, the 

 hunters make a large candle, light it, and put it down 

 into the cave ; then lie on their faces near it, with their 

 rifles in their hands ready for firing. Bruin's active 

 curiosity is excited, he gets up to examine the candle, 

 and is shot. 



The Brown Bear much resembles the black in size, 

 habits, and shape, and like it lives in hollow places ; he, 

 however, sometimes digs pits for himself, and even con- 

 structs huts, which he lines with moss. Both attain an 

 enormous size and weight. All bears are extremely fond 

 of honey and sugar, and are often taken when venturing 

 too close to man to procure these enticing substances. 

 The settlers in Canada, when they make maple sugar, 

 catch them by leaving a boiler full, into which they dip 

 their paws or their head ; and they fall an easy prey 

 when encumbered with the thick, saccharine matter, and 

 sometimes with the boiler also. Bruin's attention is 

 easily diverted, and many have escaped by throwing a 

 bundle or knapsack down when he is in pursuit of them ; 

 for while he stoops to examine it, they gain time and 

 distance. It is natural to him to play all sorts of antics ; 

 arid we are told by an Indian traveller, that in one of 

 his journeys, some bears kept in front of his palanquin, 

 tumbling and playing as if they designed to afford him 

 amusement. Climbing is a great delight to them, and one 

 was seen to ascend a scaffolding, for his own pleasure. 

 lie at first proceeded cautiously, examining the strength 



D 



