454 YELLOW BEAR. 



continue in their winter retreats, either in dens 

 beneath the snow under ground, or in the hollows 

 of old trees, for the space of five or six weeks with- 

 out food. 



Far. ? 



YELLOW BEAR. 



Among Mr. Catton's figures of quadrupeds a 

 representation is given of a Yellow Bear, from the 

 living animal then kept in the Tower. The fol- 

 lowing is the description accompanying the plate 

 referred to : 



"The Yellow Bear, from Carolina (as the Ame- 

 rican Bears in general are), is rather smaller than 

 the European Bears; it has also a more pleasant 

 and agreeable countenance, is perfectly tame and 

 sociable; the colour a lively bright orange, of 

 a reddish cast. The hair thick, long, and silky. 

 Its other properties are the same as of the species 

 in general." 



Mr. Pennant, in his Arctic Zoology, has com- 

 piled, from good authorities, a very curious and 

 pleasing account of the ceremonials used among 

 the North American Indians at the time of their 

 periodical hunting of the Bear. 



" The chase of these animals (says he) is a mat- 

 ter of the first importance, and never undertaken 

 without abundance of ceremony. A principal 

 warrior first gives a general invitation to all the 

 hunters. This is followed by a most serious fast 



