THE AMERICAN BEAR. J05 



Indian hunters Cubs frequently tamed. 



resentment they dread if they do not eat every 

 morsel, and even sup up the melted grease in 

 which the meat \vas dressed. They sometimes 

 eat till they burst, or bring on themselves some 

 violent disorders. The first course is, the great- 

 est bear they have killed : without even taking 

 out the entrails, or skinning it; contenting them- 

 selves with merely singeing the skin, as is prac- 

 tised with hogs." 



The Southern Indians of America, frequently 

 tame and domesticate the young cubs of the 

 bear; which are sometimes taken so young that 

 they cannot eat ; and on such occasions they 

 often oblige their wives to suckle them. 



Several authors of respectability unanimously 

 assert, that neither European nor Indian ever 

 killed an American bear with young. In one 

 winter upwards of five hundred were killed in 

 Virginia ; among which were only two females, 

 and those not pregnant. The cause assigned is, 

 that the male has the same dislike to his offspring 

 that the males of some other animals have ; and 

 therefore the females, previously to the time of 

 parturition, retire into the depth of the woods 

 and rocks, to elude the search of their savage 

 mates. 



These animals are found in all the northern 

 parts of America;; migrating occasionally south- 

 ward in quest of food. Their flesh is said to taste 

 like excellent pork. 



NO. 111. O 



