44 THE STORY OF THE BEAR. 



head, sharper muzzle, and more regularly convex profile of the face, as well 

 as a much shorter hind-foot. In length this bear seldom exceeds 5 feet. 

 The fur is less shaggy, and altogether smoother and more glossy than that of 

 either the brown or grizzly bear; being of a uniformly black color, except on 

 the muzzle, where it becomes tawny yellow. Occasionally specimens are 

 found with white margins to the lips and white streaks on the chest. The 

 smaller size of the hind-feet of this species renders its trail distinguishable at 

 a glance from that of the grizzly bear. 



The black bear formerly had a wider distribution than the grizzly, extend- 

 ing from Labrador and Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the east to 

 the west coasts of the continent. It frequented all the mountains, the thickets 

 of the vast plains, and every creek, river, and bay or bottom. At the 

 present day its habitat is confined to some portions of the various ranges of 

 mountains south of the St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes, and, east of the 

 Mississippi River, to parts of those portions of the Mississippi River and its 

 tributaries which are yet unsettled, and where it has been able to escape 

 destruction from hunters. Some few are yet found in the dense thickets of 

 the Colorado, Trinity, and Brazos rivers. 



As with other bears, the male is much larger than the female ; when full 

 grown the former will stand about 3 feet in height, and will often turn the 

 scale at from 600 to 700 pounds. 



The food of the American black bear consists not only of mice and other 

 small mam.mals, turtles, frogs, and fish, but also, and largely, of ants and 

 their eggs, bees and their honey, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, blue- 

 berries, and various other fruits, vegetables, and roots. He sometimes 

 makes devastating raids upon the barn-yard, slaying and devouring sheep, 

 calves, pigs, and poultry. It is claimed that the black bear is growing more 

 carnivorous and' discontented with a diet of herbs. Assuredly, he is grow- 

 ing bolder. He is also developing a propensity to destroy more than he 

 can eat. It is fortunate that an animal of the strength and ferocity which 

 he displays when aroused seldom attacks man. The formation of his power- 

 ful jaws and terrible canine teeth are well adapted to seize and hold his prey, 

 and his molars are strong enough to crush the bones of an ox. His great 

 strength, however, Hes in his fore-arms and paws. His mode of attacking 

 his prey is not to seize it with his teeth, but tO' strike terrific blows with his 

 fore-paws. 



His v^^eakness is for pork, and to obtain it he will run any risk. When 

 the farmers, after sufferings severe losses at his hands, become unusually 



