QUADRUPEDS. 41 



Bcnses in this bear. Although he kills many small animals, he 

 does not follow them by the smell. When he walks, his gait is 

 heavy and apparently awkward, and when running is not much 

 less so, but his strength of body enables him to move with 

 considerable celerity, and for a long time. 



The females bring forth their young in the winter time, and ex- 

 hibit for them a degree of attachment which nothing can surpass. 

 They usually have two cubs, which are suckled until they are well 

 grown. The fondness existing between the mother and cubs 

 seems to be mutual, and no danger can separate her from them, 

 nor anything, short of death itself, induce her to forsake them. 



THE BEAR. 



Black bears are still numerous in the wooded and thinly settled 

 parts of the States of the Union, and where their favorite food is 

 plenteous they grow to a great size, and afford a large quantity 

 of oil. 



The food of this animal is principally grapes, plums, whortle- 

 berries, persimmons, bramble and other berries ; they are also par- 

 ticularly fond of the acorns of the live oak. They are also very 

 fond of the different kinds of nuts ant. esculent roots, and often 

 ramble to great distances from their dens in search of whortleber- 

 ries, mulberries, and indeed all sweet flavored and spicy fruits : 

 birds, small quadrupeds, insects, and eggs, are also devoured by 



