152 FUR FACTS 



but there is no such species as the cinnamon bear. The difference 

 between the cinnamon colored black bear and the black colored one 

 is the same as the difference between a blond and brunette; while the 

 difference between the cinnamon colored black bear and the cinnamon 

 colored grizzly bear is like the difference between a spaniel and a 

 setter; they are of different breeds. 



The black bear has a head broader between the ears in pro- 

 portion to its length and a muzzle much shorter and sharper than 

 the grizzly. This muzzle is also almost invariably of a grayish or a 

 buff color. The animal shows a rather noticable hump over the 

 small of the back, just in front of the hind legs, and these legs are 

 less straight than those of the grizzly and more sloping at the haunches. 

 Its ears are larger, its eyes are small and pig-like. Its claws are 

 short, much curved, very stocky at the base, and taper rapidly to a 

 sharp point. They are far less formidable as weapons and far less 

 servicable as digging implements than the long, slightly curved, 

 blunt claws of the grizzly; but they are perfectly adapted to the 

 uses to which their owner puts them. And the chief of these uses is 

 climbing. 



The black bear climbs like a squirrel and from cub-hood to old 

 age spends a considerable portion of his time in trees. He can climb 

 as soon as he can walk and his mother takes clever advantage of this 

 fact. She sends her cubs up a tree whenever she wants them off 

 her hands for a time or when any danger threatens. In the latter 

 case, she will try to induce the enemy to follow her, and, when she 

 has eluded him, will return for the cubs. In parts of the country 

 where there are wolves, she will usually dispose of the cubs in this 

 manner before herself going off to feed on berries, etc., and though 

 it may be hours before her return, nothing will induce the cubs 

 to set foot on the ground until then. Later in life the black 

 bear continues to regard trees as its natural refuge from all 

 danger. A naturalist, some years ago, while visiting Yellowstone 

 Park, went one evening to watch the bears back of the Lake Hotel 

 where the refuse pile serves as their dining table. Conceal- 

 ing himself in shrubbery, he saw an old black bear and two 

 cubs contentedly feeding when a grizzly bear came upon the 

 scene from another direction. Immediately, the old black bear 

 gave a warning signal which the cubs apparently well under- 

 stood for they scampered off and up a near-by tree without any delay. 

 I have been told by experienced hunters that the cubs will not come 

 down out of the tree unless called by the mother and that they 



