feet and the difference in weight, as he is usually at least one hun- 

 dred pounds lighter, may well be sacrificed for greater shapeliness 

 and ease of motion. Fully able to hold his own in a swimming 

 contest with his bigger cousin, he excels at climbing, making his way 

 up any tree or out on any branch strong enough to bear him. 



Indeed he must often practice this method of approach to find 

 his favorite dainty, since nothing is so toothsome to black Bruin 

 as wild honey. To get it, he will not only scale almost any kind of 

 tree, but will withstand the stings of its guardians, while making 

 an opening large enough to admit his huge paw, and feeling more 

 than repaid for his trouble, as he licks off the sweet, comb, honey, 

 young and all. While some individual members of this group may 

 always crave animal food, most of them are quite content with an 

 abundance of berries and fruit, unless, however, they may gain 

 access to a pig-pen, as, without exception, they are inordinately 

 fond of pork. The juicy sap of growing corn furnishes another 



68 



