511 



brash has j^rown up, there seems to be no doubt iu the 

 iiiiuds of exi)eiienced woodsmen that Bears have be- 

 come murh more numerous than tliey were fifteen or 

 twenty jears ago. Fur dealers chiim that about ]">() 

 Bears' skins are annually shipped to the markets 

 from Pennsylvania. 



Tlio Bear is omnivorous. Dr. Merriam referring to 

 his food says: 



"His larder 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, rasp- 

 berries, blueberries, and various other fruits, vegetables and 

 roots. He sometimes makes devasting raids upon the barn- 

 yard, slaying and devouring sheep, calves, pigs and poultry. 

 In confinement he shares with the inmates of the hog-pen 

 whatever is left from his master's table." 



In addition to the several species and subspecies 

 (local or geographical races) of mammals referred to 

 on preceding pages there are in Pennsylvania the fol- 

 lowing, of which but brief mention will be made: 



Two species of Weasels, two kinds of Minks, eight or 

 nine varieties of soft-furred Moles and Shrews, concern- 

 ing the economic relations of which so many diverse 

 opinions are entertained by farmers and sportsmen; 

 and at least a half dozen species of insect-destroying 

 Bats. 



THE BAT'S WINTER HOME. 



Bals. like some other of our mammals, spend the 

 winter months in retirement. In Centre county there 

 is a cave about fourteen hundred feet long, containing 

 numerous large chambers and showy stalactites and 

 stalagmites. This immense cavern, penetrating the 

 whole length of a small mountain range, has the floor 



