THE SYRIAN BEAR AND THE GRIZZLY BEAR. 115 



home they are joined by the elder cubs, and the two families pass the 

 next winter in the mother's den. 



The Syrian Bear, which is otherwise known by the name of 

 DuBB, or RiTCK, is doubly interesting to us, not only on account of 

 its peculiarly gentle character, but from the fact that it is the animal 

 which is so often mentioned in the scriptural writings. 



The color of this animal is rather peculiar, and varies extremely 

 during the different periods of its life. While it is in its earliest years, 

 the color of its fur is a grayish brown, but as the animal increases in 

 years the fur becomes gradually lighter in tint, and when the Bear has 

 attained maturity is nearly white. The hair is long and slightly curled, 

 and beneath the longer hair is a thick and warm covering of closely-set 

 woolly fur, which seems to defend the animal from the extremes of heat 

 or cold. Along the shoulders and front of the neck, the hair is so per- 

 pendicularly set, and projects so firmly, that it gives the appearance of 

 a mane, somewhat resembling that of the hysena. 



At the present day the Syrian Bear may be found in the mountain- 

 ous parts of Palestine, and has been frequently seen upon the higher 

 Lebanon mountains. 



The fur of this Bear is rather valuable on account of its warmth and 

 beauty, and the fat and the gall are also held in much esteem for vari- 

 ous purposes, chiefly medicinal. 



America furnishes several species of the Bear tribe, two of which, 

 the Grizzly Bear and the Musquaw, or Black Bear, are the most 

 conspicuous. 



The Black Bear is found in many parts of Northern America, and 

 was formerly seen in great plenty. But, as the fur and the fat are arti- 

 cles of great commercial and social value, the hunters have exercised 

 their craft with such determination that the Black Bears are sensibly 

 diminishing in number. The fur of the Black Bear is not so roughly 

 shaggy as that of the European or the Syrian Bear, but is smooth and 

 glossy in its appearance, so that it presents a very handsome aspect 

 to the eye, while its texture is as thick and warm as that of its rougher 

 furred relations. 



There are few animals which are so widely and deservedly dreaded 

 as the Grizzly Bear. This terrible animal is an inhabitant of many 

 portions of Northern America, and is the acknowledged superior of 

 every animal that ranges over the same country. 



The other members of the ursine family are not given to attacking 

 human beings, unless they are alarmed or wounded, but the Grizzly — or 

 " Ephraim," as the creature is familiarly termed by the hunters — dis- 

 plays a most unpleasant readiness to assume the offensive as soon as it 

 perceives a man, be he mounted or on foot, armed or otherwise. 



So tenacious of life is the Grizzly Bear that unless it receives a wound 



