84 BEARS.- BLACK BEAR OF AMERICA. 



seeks concealment from every eye. It passes the greatest 

 part of the day in sleep, and seems in its proper element 

 only during the darkness of the night. 



In a state of nature, it steals from its hole about the 

 evening, and prowls about farm-yards, &c. in quest of 

 prey. It makes an accurate discrimination between what 

 it can manage, and what would be too powerful for its 

 efforts ; and seldom fails in its enterprises. In winter it 

 wars chiefly against rats and mice, in barns and out-houses ; 

 but during the summer it ventures on more extensive 

 excursions. 



The weasel, like all the rest of its family, has a strong 

 fetid smell, which is always greater in summer than in 

 winter, and is constantly increased by irritation. It utters 

 no voice nor cry ; except when hurt, when its squeak is 

 grating and offensive to the ear. 



BEARS. 



There are several species of these animals, forming a dis- 

 tinct genus ; such as the black bear, the brown bear, the 

 white, and the Kamtschatka bear : but they all, though 

 different in size and form, evince the same original stock, 

 varied by climate and by food. 



THE BLACK BEAR OF AMERICA 



This is a strong powerful animal, covered with black, 

 smooth, glossy hair ; and is very common in North Ame- 

 rica. It is said to subsist wholly on vegetable food ; but 

 some of them, which have been imported into England, 

 have shown a predilection for flesh. They strike with their 

 fore-feet like a cat, and seldom use their tusks ; but hug 

 their assailant in their paws so closely to their breasts, that 

 they almost squeeze it to death. The females seek the 

 most impenetrable retreats, in which they bring forth 

 their young ; and though numbers of bears are annually 

 killed during winter, they are generally found to be males. 

 After becoming fat in autumn, these animals retire to their 

 dens, and continue six or seven weeks in total inactivity 



