44 THE BLACK BEAR OF PENNSYLVANIA 



untilboth were literally torn to pieces; and Charles 

 L. Fleming tells of an almost similar bear-panther 

 combat near Rock Run, Centre County. There are 

 few more observing naturalists than Mr. Fleming, and 

 he has made a life-long study of the habits of Penn 

 sylvania bears. He can point out the way they mark 

 trees with their claws, and break off saplings in their 

 migrations to show to their kind the direction in which 

 they are traveling. The bear wallows on Rock Run 

 are very popular wi'th the ursine tribe, and Fleming's 

 descriptions of mother bears teaching their cubs to 

 enjoy mud baths is droll and of unusual interest. 

 "Jake" Zimmerman is, of course, another authority 

 on bear wallows, and on the wandering habits ot 

 bears in general. He is fond of pointing out "The 

 Haystack," a high mountain on White Deer Creek, 

 where Martin Blue, a fifteen-year-old boy from 

 Orangeville, Columbia County, shot three bears in 

 1870, and slid them down the side of 'the hill on the 

 snow. Bear hides have rapidly enhanced in value of 

 late years. 



In 1914 the writer was shown a superbly furred 

 black hide, killed by Miles Hall, of near Unionville, 

 Centre County, son of the famous hunter, Aaron Hall, 

 which was priced at $15.00. Fifty dollars is now paid 

 for a good bear rug, mounted with the head, although 

 a few years ago Charles H. Eldon, of Williamsport, 

 sold finely mounted rugs at $35.00. Unmounted bear 

 skins, in prime fur, will probably fetch $25.00 at the 

 present time. Bear grease is in great demand among 



