A Few Sidelights On Bears 



"To dream a bear thy self pursues, 

 A cruel foe some mischief brews." 



Old Rime. 



In "Extinct Pennsylvania Animals," Parts I. and 

 II. by the writer of these lines are recorded the un- 

 happy stories of the extermination of a dozen of the 

 larger forms of mammals which once inhabited the 

 Keystone State. They were unnecessarily wiped out 

 of existencex to satisfy man's misguided zeal and 

 rapacity, and for political reasons, to keep the moun- 

 taineer vote in line by the payment of "bounties." 

 Through some miracle of good fortune, the Black 

 Bear has been spared so that we of the present gem 

 eration can enjoy the presence of this unique game 

 animal in our forests. 



The deer are also with us, but it is a question as 

 to whether they remain in their native form, or are 

 merely introduced animals from the West and South, 

 and their descendants. 



The Black Bear was never "introduced" by Game 

 Department Officials, in fact, was never given a fair 

 chance until a few years ago, when he was on the 

 verge of extermination, trapping and other unfair 

 means of destroying him were forbidden by law. But 

 his enemies will never rest, they want a longer season, 

 they want the privilege of taking him in pens, in addi- 

 tion to the privileges gained in the law which was 



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