98 On the Retreat of Sivalloivs in Winter 



beginning of January, they retire to holes, or caverns, in 

 ledges of rocks j and sometimes into hollow trees, where 

 thej remain in a state of torpitude, or rather profound sleep, 

 until about the middle of the month of March; when they 

 awake, and go abroad; at which time, the female brings out 

 her cubs with her. It has been a matter of great uncertain- 

 ty with hunters, in what way those cubs are generated : for 

 the female bears have been killed in these holes, at all peri- 

 ods of their retirement; and frequently, just about the time 

 of their coming out; and yet no cubs have been found in 

 them; nor has there been found, after the most critical 

 search, any appearance of an embryo, or foetus. I have of- 

 ten examined them ; and it has been done by many hunters, 

 particularly by the Indians (who consider this as a very 

 mysterious matter) just at the time of their <roin- abroad 



t5^*"0 



the visc6ra, where they might be expected to be found ; and 



the whole of the intestines, were collapsed, and as clean as 

 It they had been washed with water, except a hard lump 

 of feces just within the orifice of the anus. If the bears 

 are awaked before the proper time of their emigration, 

 hey will sleep uo more ; but rove about the remainder of 



Z r r -1 r ^'''''" ^ *^^^^ ^^^^^ -^ ^^out four years 

 od not '^ ''^ ''''' ^^ ^*--3S after which it 



Vt " ™ ? ''' '''^'' ^'^'^'' but required constant 

 iccdrng the remamder of the wiutor if • i. .1 



with ihn . 1 . ^^ inter. It is miich the same 



^itn tlie rackoon, n reo-nrd tn if. i • 

 . ih. ..v.... ' ^^''^ ^^ '^' sleeping, 



^"S Uie winter. 



and wakins;, d 



b? 



It 



