284 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



haps a sow, a calf, or even a full-grown cow. 

 As soon as the different kinds of berries which 

 grow on the mountains begin to ripen, the bears 

 betake themselves to the high grounds, followed 

 by their cubs. 



In retired parts of the country, where the 

 plantations are large and the population sparse, 

 it pays visits to the corn-fields, which it ravages 

 for a while. After this, the various species of 

 nuts, acorns, grapes, and other forest fruits, that 

 form what in the western States is called mast, 

 attract its attention. The bear is then seen 

 rambling singly through the woods to gather this 

 harvest, not forgetting, meanwhile, to rob every 

 hee-tree it meets with, bears being expert at this 

 operation. 



The black bear is a capital climber, and now 

 and then Jiouses itself in the hollow trunk of 

 some large tree for weeks together during the 

 winter, when it is said to live by sucking its 

 paws. 



At one season, the bear may be seen examin- 

 ing the lower part of the trunk of a tree for 

 several minutes with much attention, at the same 

 time looking around, and snuffing the air. It 

 then rises on its hind-legs, approaches the trunk, 

 embraces it with the fore-legs, and scratches the 

 bark with its teeth and claws for several minutes 

 in continuance. lis jaws clash against each 



