THE BLACK BEAR OF MUSKOKA 91 



necessary to go through divers ceremonies before 

 proceeding to hunt the animal. It is believed 

 that the males do not so soon resort to winter 

 quarters as the females, and require some time 

 after the love season to recover their lost fat. 

 The females bring forth their young about the 

 beginning of January. The black bears are 

 somewhat migratory, and in hard winters are 

 found to move southwardly in considerable 

 numbers, although not in company. They couple 

 in September or October. The skin of the 

 black bear is an excellent material for sleigh 

 robes, hammer-cloths, caps, etc., and makes a 

 comfortable bed for the backwoodsman, or 

 Indian ; and the grease procured from this 

 animal is used as hair-dressing. Bear's meat is 

 a regular commodity of food in the American and 

 Canadian markets. A well-cured ham is delicious, 

 though I always found the flesh too rich and 

 strong in the form of a steak. Some persons 

 prefer this food to pork, and it is regularly 

 shipped to England to provide for the require- 

 ments of such epicures. The skin of a young 

 cub when a quarter grown is a rich glossy black. 

 I once presented an English lady with a hand- 

 some skin, and for years she wore it as a cape ; 



