214 BIG GAME FIELDS 



cumstances, should be fully grown ; that the black 

 bear lives at least to the age of twenty I am sure, 

 for I know of more than one case where they 

 have been kept in captivity for this length of 

 time. But I would not care to take a life insur- 

 ance risk on one that had reached the age of 

 twenty-five, as I think this is about their limit. 



How many of us have gone into the woods in 

 our early hunting days (I am going to include 

 myself in this) and looked around wondering 

 which would be the safest tree to shin up in case 

 an old black bear should have designs on us. 

 Now that little sapling over there looks good. 

 They say a slim tree with no low branches is the 

 best to nest in on an occasion like this. But for 

 those who do not already know, we will settle that 

 question right here. It does not matter in the 

 least what tree you select, whether it is one some 

 two or three feet in diameter, or just that little 

 sapling ; it is safe to say if you can get up, so can 

 the bear. But this is the point; he won't come. 

 No black bear, when given such a fine oppor- 

 tunity to get away, will stick around. Their 

 claws, which are very unlike those of the grizzly, 

 are especially adapted for climbing, while the 

 front paws of a grizzly are especially adapted for 

 digging, being long, and from four to six inches 



