THE BLACK BEAR OF PENNSYLVANIA 15 



both Counties. He believes that 26 were killed by 

 hunters within the borders of Potter County, during 

 1920; that no more than the increase have been de- 

 stroyed, although many bears were driven from the 

 County by the great number of hunters here; that 

 most of them will soon return. 



The diet of bears is of mixed character and they 

 are capable of sustaining existence on either a vege- 

 table or a purely animal diet, to ibe either carnivorous 

 or vegetarian at will They are harmless animals at 

 most times, when undisturbed, contenting themselves 

 with fruit, honey, nuts, roots, snails and insects, and 

 similar articles of diet, rarely attacking the higher 

 animals, except when driven by dire necessity. 



In combat with man, the bear exhibits a fearful 

 ingenuity and "the strength of ten men and the sense 

 of twelve," he directs attack upon the head of his 

 antagonist and may strike off the scalp at one blow. 

 Then use teeth instead of claws on the prostrate foe 

 whose senses seem blunted, while under the bear. 



The extreme tenacity of life and the fearful energy 

 which a wounded bear compresses into its last mo- 

 ments of existence reveal a most terrible antagonist. 

 Unless struck in brain or 'heart, the bear is more to 

 be feared when wounded severely than when no in- 

 jury has been inflicted, and it wreaks dire injury on 

 its foe during the last moments of existence. 



Quiescent in apparent death, the stunned bear may 

 revive and do great harm to an incautious hunter who 



