FAMILY URSID^. 25 



a deer without touching it. The Bear is an imitative animal ; and hence, when it meets a 

 man, it will rise on its hind legs, but is apparently soon satisfied with the comparison, and 

 endeavors to make its escape. It is a great traveller, and when pursued by tracking, has 

 been known to perform long journeys. It never makes immediately for its retreat ; but 

 approaches it in a circling manner. A bear was started near Schroon some years since, and 

 after a chase of eighteen days, was finally killed. Although seldom seen during the chase, 

 yet he appeared to be fully aware that he was an object of pursuit, and the worn and lacerated 

 condition of his feet testified to his exertions to escape. They are numerous along the 

 borders of the Saranac, and in the mountainous regions of Rockland and Greene. Occasion- 

 ally they invade the enclosures of the farmer, in search of potatoes and Indian corn. Their 

 depredations are, however, speedily checked ; for they are timid, and will never attack a 

 man, unless previously wounded, or in defence of their young. Some of the hunters imagine 

 that there are two varieties of the common Black Bear, viz. the short-legged and the long- 

 legged ; but others inform me that the diflference is owing entirely to the fact that some are 

 fatter and more robust, which produces an apparent difference in the length of their legs. 

 The Yellow Bear of Carolina, and the Cinnamon Bear of the northern regions, are varieties 

 of this species. In this State, they retire with the first fall of snow, to caverns, or to the 

 hollow of some decayed tree, or beneath a prostrate tree, during the winter, and pass three 

 Or four months in a state of torpidity. In more southern latitudes, the hybernation is of 

 shorter duration, and ceases to occur when the mildness of the winter enables them to procure 

 food. They are fat when they enter their winter quarters, and much emaciated when they 

 leave it in the spring. Indeed this condition of fatness is so necessary, that when the supply 

 of food is cut off, instead of retiring to winter quarters, they migrate southwardly to warmer 

 regions. Hence great numbers are occasionally known to enter our territory from the north, 

 composed entirely of lean males, or females not with young. 



The flesh of the bear is savory, but rather luscious, and tastes not unlike pork. It was 

 once so common an article of food in New- York, as to have given the name of Bear market 

 to one of the principal markets in the city. The female goes with young seven months, 

 bringing forth two young in February or March. The oil sells for one dollar per pound, and 

 the skin from four to twelve dollars, according to its value. 



The engraving illustrative of this species was taken from a very large individual shot on 

 the Kaaterskill mountains, Greene county, during the winter of 1839. It measured six feet 

 and a half from the nose to the tip of the tail ; and, at the foreshoulders, measured three feet 

 two inches from the ground. 



(EXTRALIMITAL.) 



U. ferox. (Sav, Long's Expal. 2, 244. Richardson, pi. 1 and 2.). Larger than the preceding 

 color white, brown and black intermixed ; facial outline nearly straight. Northern, and western 

 regions. 



U. maritimus. (Godman, pL fig-) White; facial outline somewhat convex ; ears small; soles of the 

 feet very long. Arctic Sea. 

 Fauna. 4 



