164 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



number, very stiff, like bristles ; neck short ; body robust ; limbs rather 

 short ; feet naked beneath ; toes provided with strong curved, sharp 

 claws ; tail moderately long and bushy ; fur, two kinds, a very soft fine 

 fur with a coarser fur growing in and beyond it ; color of head, neck, 

 body and legs, yellowish gray ; the hairs on the back and upper parts of 

 the sides, tipped with black. There is a patch of brownish black 

 running from the nose to between the eyes, where it separates into two 

 patches, one running on each side of the face to the neck ; the tail is 

 yellowish gray and has usually five black rings which encircle it, except 

 a short distance beneath ; the tip of the tail is black ; the under fur on 

 the body is dingy brown. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length of head, 5^ inches. 



Length of head and body, 23 inches. 



Length of tail, not including the hairs at the tip, 9^^ inches. 



Length of tail, including the hairs at the tip, 11 inches. 



Length of hind foot from heel to tip of claw, 4 inches. 



Length of fore foot fi'om heel to tip of claw, 2^ inches. 



Genus : Ursus. — (Linn.) 

 Characteristics. — Head large ; ears large, tapering and pointed ; teeth 

 as in the genus Procyon, with the exception of the molars, which are 

 four in the upper, and six in the lower jaw ; body stout, covered with 

 long thick hair ; limbs strong ; toes entirely separated, furnished with 

 strong curved claws fitted for digging; tail short. Animals in this 

 genus are almost entirely nocturnal in their habits ; they are omnivorous, 

 and generally hibernate. 



Ursus Americanus, (Pallas.) — Black Bear. 

 This animal, once common in this State, is now very rare. I am 

 informed that several have been seen in the towns of North Adams, 

 Florida, and Clarksburg, during the past year, but probably this species 

 will very soon be entirely extinct with us. It is not a ferocious animal, 

 always retiring before man, unless in defence of its cubs ; it is not so 

 carnivorous as some of the other species, its favorite food consisting of 

 fruits, vegetables, berries, nuts (mast) and grain. Like the raccoon, this 

 animal is very fond of corn while it is in the milk, and does great 

 damage when visiting the corn-fields, by breaking down and destroying 

 much more than it eats. It often destroys young cattle, sheep and hogs, 

 but seldom, unless impelled by hunger. It is often taken in steel traps, 

 which, instead of being firmly fixed at one spot, ai*e fastened to a log 

 which is not so heavy but the bear can drag it ; this is called a hobble ; 

 it effectually does what it is intended to, that is, prevents the bear from 



