THE BLACK BEAR. 251 



' The Bear does not keep watch, like the Panther, over 

 its prey, to prevent other animals from eating or dragging 

 it away. The Panther that has caught a Deer, after eating 

 as much as it wants, usually seeks some tree near by, and 

 there, extended at full length on a limb, keeps a close 

 watch of the carcass, which it has covered with leaves, to 

 conceal it from buzzards and crows. 



"Again, I have seen the Bear return to the log, after 

 listening intently, and renew its search for insects, when I 

 would imitate the bleats of a fawn when seized by some 

 voracious animal. No more listening now; but onward, 

 with terrific growls, it would rush to the spot, right up 

 to the muzzle of the gun, to be stopped only by a well-" 

 directed shot. I am inclined to the belief that were the 

 gun to miss fire, the Bear would, in such a case, attack the 

 hunter. 



"Again, I have, after the Bear had returned to 'its feed- 

 ing, stepped a few steps on the dry leaves and twigs. There 

 was no mistaking that ominous sound; no listening, no 

 stopping; but, as fast as its legs could take it, through 

 brush, briers, vines, or cane, it dashed, as if life and death 

 depended on its movements, and would not stop until it 

 had reached its place of safety. It recognized the sound as 

 well as if it had seen the hunter. 



"After the Bear leaves its winter quarters, it eats what- 

 ever it may find, not only insects, but young cane, craw- 

 fish, roots that are edible, mast of all kinds, hogs, the young 

 of cows and Deer, sheep, carcasses of animals that have 

 recently died if very hungry, not disdaining a meal from a 

 putrid carcass. 



"The Black Bear is exceedingly fond of honey, and 

 rarely fails to get the honey when it has found a bee-tree. 

 After night, it will leave the mountains and go to the 

 farms in search of food. Should he find a hive of bees, he 

 will boldly carry it off, and, knocking it to pieces, eat the 

 honey, regardless of the stings of the whole colony. On 

 several occasions, I have caught them in large Bear-traps, 

 using honey as a bait. Those traps were made of logs, in the 



