THE BEAR. 171 



access to the human foot : in these solitary retreats it 

 passes several months in the winter, in a state of tor- 

 pidity, without motion or sense; and never quits them 

 until it is compelled by hunger to search for a fresh 

 supply of food. A fabled account of these animals 

 tells us, they subsist, during that period, by sucking 

 their paws ; but this story only obtains credit with 

 those who believe the '* most improbable tales. v At 

 the commencement of the winter, the bear is so fat 

 that for six or seven weeks it sleeps without a sup- 

 ply o'f food ; but the nutricious covering of fat be- 

 ing exhausted, it is again compelled to search for 

 more. 



Savage and surly as this animal is in disposition, 

 when taken young it submits, in a certain degree, to 

 be tamed : and, by being taught to erect itself upon 

 the hinder legs, moves about to the instrument in an 

 awkward kind of dance ; though at the method adopted 

 to produce this motion both .feeling and humanity 

 ought to blush, for it is said the poor creature is set 

 upon plates of hot iron, and, from the agony produced, 

 naturally withdraws its paws. 



In Canada, where the black bear is very common, 

 they reside towards the top of some old tree, where 

 they would bid defiance to every kind of molestation, 

 did not the hunters judiciously set fire to their retreat : 

 the old one is generally foremost to make her escape, 

 whilst the hunters watch her appearance with their 

 muskets cocked ; and in attempting to escape from 

 one danger she falls into another, from which there is 

 no retreat. The young ones, as they descend, are 

 caught in a noose, and are either tamed to be exhi- 

 bited, or killed to eat; their paws are considered as a 

 great delicacy, and their hams are universally known 

 to be c:ood. 



