12 THE BLACK BEAR OF PENNSYLVANIA 



When a black bear kills a sheep, he does it in a bold 

 and a business-like manner, for food, eats and departs 

 like a philosopher. True, he may return when hungry 

 and select another sheep for his repast, continuing 

 to repeat the process for some weeks; but he kills 

 only enough for his need, and never destroys wan- 

 tonly for sport or pastime, as dogs do. 



Again, while bruin lingers in the vicinity of sheep, 

 none of them is in danger from ravages of the outlaw 

 dogs, for these cowards keep away from bears, and 

 avoid -the trail of a (bear. They aire careful to observe 

 the dictates of their creed! 



As insect destroyers bears are of prime importance 

 to the maturing forest, and they are of economic value 

 to preserve the .balance designed by the Creator. So 

 we design to introduce our bear and describe his char- 

 acter. Then, farther along, we shall show his soul 

 before your eyes, as it has been seen by his human 

 friends in the forests, from the days that "Grand- 

 father Bear" befriended Redimen who sought advice, 

 to our own times. 



"The spirit of man came upon earth and sought 

 the bear for advice: Ho, grandfather, our children 

 have no 'bodies! The bear then sent them to the 

 pigeon for incarnation." 



The Musquaw or Bla'ck Bear, (Ursus Americanus). 

 is native of Pennsylvania and Canada and most 

 of the other States of the Union, In the far west 

 a brown variety of the same species is found. 

 In gait the animal is plantigrade, and is capable of 



