THE BLACK BEAR OF PENNSYLVANIA 17 



An adult bear weighs 200 to 300 pounds in Sum- 

 mer, when thin, and 400 pounds in Autumn, if fat. 

 Sometimes a 500-pound bear has been reported in late 

 autumn or early Winter; but such specimens are ex- 

 tremely rare. Chestnuts are bruin's favorite food, 

 and branches of trees, loaded with ripe nuts, are lop- 

 ped off, for his breakfast. 



The bear sheds its fur in April and grows a Sum- 

 mer suit of glossy black hair. This is shed in October 

 and the Winter suit: of thick fur takes its place and 

 warms the bear. 



The late Edwin Grimes, (1830-1919), told of killing 

 a 450-pound bear. Seeing the huge animal walking 

 on a log, Mr. Grimes shot it through the neck. Cry- 

 ing u O-o-oh", the bear slid off the log and lay prone, 

 with head resting on its fore-paws. Another bullet 

 was then sent through its neck, and the old hunter 

 approached the bear. His dog, Mia j or, sniffed at the 

 bear's heels, leaping back and snapping viciously. 



The hunter said : "Why don't you take hold of him, 

 Major?" Thus encouraged, the dog bit harder, leap- 

 ing back, quickly, and barking in a low key, as though 

 angry and fearful. On bruin's neck, the hair rose in 

 anger, so the hunter sent another bullet crashing 

 through its brain. The more experienced hunters are 

 ever the most cautious when a bear has been mortally 

 wounded. 



The skin of this great bear became a beautiful robe, 

 with long silky hair and thick fur, that has often kept 



