254 THE BEAR FAMILY 



The bears are not as fierce and formidable as the 

 tiger, the lion, and the jaguar, found in tropical or 

 semi-tropical countries, the grizzly bear excepted. Our 

 cougar or mountain lion, which is found from New 

 York State to northern South America, is said to be 

 more fierce and dangerous and destructive to cattle in 

 the South than in the North. It is there also more 

 abundant. 



Although regarded as ferocious and dangerous, all 

 the bears are inclined to run away and escape, and 

 seldom attack a man unless wounded or suddenly 

 cornered. The only bear which is really very dan- 

 gerous when in such situations is the grizzly bear. 

 Instances where the smaller black bears have killed or 

 injured a person are comparatively uncommon. I 

 know a man who, going to the assistance of his dog, 

 attacked and killed a large black bear with his pen- 

 knife. The black bears have killed many dogs, as we 

 shall observe in the chapter on these animals. 



All bears will fight to defend their young from man 

 or other enemies, and then exhibit much courage. 

 Their method of fighting is peculiar and consists in 

 rising up on their hind legs and striking with their 

 powerful claws. The statement, often made, that they 

 embrace or hug their enemy is disputed. 



The bears are classed by the naturalists as carnivo- 

 rous animals, but they eat such a great variety of food 

 that they may be said to be nearly omnivorous, except- 

 ing the polar bear, which cannot procure a great vari- 

 ety in the frozen North-land where it lives. The grizzly 

 and the common black bear are very fond of vegeta- 

 bles, roots, insects, honey, and fish. 



