THE BLACK BEAR COMEDIAN in 



In the majority of cases the mother appears 

 to wean the cubs during the first autumn of their 

 lives. The cubs then den up together that win- 

 ter. In a number of cases, whenever the cubs 

 are not weaned until the second autumn, they 

 are certain to den up with their mother the first 

 winter. The second winter the young den up 

 together. Though eager for play, brother and 

 sister cubs do not play together after the second 

 summer. When older than two years they play 

 alone or with other bears of the same age. 



Young black bears have good tempers and 

 are playful in captivity. But if teased or an- 

 noyed they become troublesome and even dan- 

 gerous with age. If thine enemy offend thee 

 present him with a black bear cub that has been 

 mistreated. He is an intense, high-strung ani- 

 mal, and if subjected to annoyances, teasing, or 

 occasional cruelty, becomes revengeful and vin- 

 dictive. Sometimes he will even look for 

 trouble, and once in a fight has the tenacity of 

 a bulldog. 



Two bears that I raised were exceedingly good- 

 tempered and never looked for trouble. I have 

 known other similar instances. I am inclined 

 to conclude that with uniformly kind treatment 

 the black bear would always have a kind dis- 

 position. 



For a year or two a dissipated cruiser and his 



