THE FUR-TRADE OF THE HUDSON'S BAY TERRITORIES. 315 



Bay territory may not be without interest. Among these, the black bear, 

 muskwa, or baribal {Vrsus americMius), is one of the most vahiable, as his lono^ 

 hair — unlike that of the brown or the white bear — is beautifully smootli and 

 glossy. He inhabits the forest regions of North America, but migrates accortb 

 ing to the seasons. In spring he seeks his food in the thickets along the banks 

 of the rivers or lakes ; in summer he retreats into the forests ; in winter he 

 either wanders farther to the south, or hollows out a kind of lair beneath the 

 root of an overthrown tree, where, as the cold is more or less severe, he either 

 finds a retreat after his excursions, or hibernates buried in the snow. lie feeds 

 chiefly on berries, grain, acorns, roots, eggs, and honey ; though, when ])ressed 

 by hunger, he Avill attack other quadruj^eds. He climbs upon trees or rocks 

 Avith great agility, and, being very watchful, is not easily got at in summer. 

 Sometimes, however, his caution brings about his destruction ; for, from fear 

 of some possible danger, or at the slightest noise, he rises on his hind legs to 

 look over the bushes under which he lies concealed, and thus offers a mark to 

 the bullet of the hunter. In the winter, when the snow betrays his traces, he 

 is more easily shot, and his skin and flesh are then also in the best condition. 

 In spite of his apparent clumsiness and stolidity, the muskwa is more alert 

 than the brown bear, whom he neai'ly approaches in size ; he runs so fast that no 

 man can overtake him, and is an excellent swimmer and climber. AVhen attacked, 

 he generally retreats as fast as possible into the forest; but if escape is im- 

 possible, he turns furiously upon his pursuers, and becomes exceedingly danger- 

 ous. Dogs alone are incapable of mastering him, as he is always ready to re- 

 ceive them with a stroke of his fore paw; but they are very useful in driving 

 him up a tree, and thus giving the hunter an opportunity of jiitting him in the 

 right spot. When in a state of captivity, the baribal, in his mild and good- 

 humored disposition, is distinguished, from the brown and Avhite bear. His 

 fur is also much more valuable than that of the brown bear. 



It is not yet fully ascertained whether the Ainerican brown bear is identical 

 with that of Europe ; the resemblance, however, is close. In summer he wan- 

 ders to the shores of the Polar Sea, and indulges more frequently in animal 

 food than the baribal. He is even said to attack man when pressed by hunger ; 

 but all those whom Sir John Richardson met Avith ran away as soon as they 

 saw him. 



As the grizzly bear {Urmis ferox) is found on the Rocky ^fountains up to 

 the latitude of 61°, he imdoubtedly deserA'es a place among the sub-arctic ani- 

 mals. The skin of this most formidable of the ursine race, Avho is about nine 

 feet long, and is said to attain the Aveight of eight hundred pounds, is but little 

 prized in the fur-trade. He is the undoubted monarch of liis native Avilds, for 

 even the savage bison flies at his approach. 



Although the raccoon [Procyon lotor) is more commonly found \\\ Canada 

 and the United States, yet he is also an inhabitant of the Hudson's Bay terri- 

 tories, Avhere he is met Avith up to 56° N, lat. This interesting little animal, 

 Avhich,like the bears, applies the sole of its foot to the ground in walking, has 

 an average length of two feet from the nose to the tail, Avhich is about ten inch- 

 es long. Its color is grayish-brown, with a dusky line running from the top of 



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