166 CARNIVORA. 



they generally feed on fruit, roots, the villagers' crops, 

 and they sometimes take to killing animals ; that the 

 female has generally two at a birth. 



BLACK BEAK. 



Ursus americanus. 

 French : Ours noir. German : Schwarzer Bar. 



This Bear, so well known, both to naturalists and to 

 fur-traders, and also in a lesser degree to the general 

 public, is of comparatively small size, rarely reaching 6 

 feet in length. It is of a quiet disposition, and is easily 

 killed with a stick, rarely showing fight. 



The Black Bear hibernates in winter, concealing the 

 mouth of its den with a mass of twigs, to give it 

 warmth. It leaves its winter quarters in the beginning 

 of May. Its diet is principally of a vegetarian nature, 

 such as blackberries, gooseberries, and other wild fruit. 

 Its flesh is consequently good eating, and is much 

 esteemed by the Indians. The paws are also relished 

 by the settlers, as well as the ham from a young animal 

 about two years old. 



The Black Bear is often taken in traps, made of a 

 board with a pike attached. 



This Bear yielded the well-known Bear's grease, which 

 was really the best pomade for the hair. With a pre- 

 paration of this fat the Indians used to dress their black 

 locks, which at times grew to the extreme length of 8 

 feet. 



Before hunting the Bear, the Indians used to try to 

 appease its spirit by the Bear Dance. This was one of 



