82 



UUSID.F..- 



-JIAJIMALIA.- 



-Ursida'. 



and even allows strangers to do so ; but it violently 

 resents abuse and ill-treatment, and, having been irri- 

 tated, refuses to be courted while the offending person 

 remains in sight." This unfortunate animal died sud- 

 denly one summer's morning, after having gorged itself 

 with a too hearty meal. 



THE BLACK EEAE {Ursus amcricaims) is a well- 

 known species, iidiabiting the American continent from 

 the shores of the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the 

 Arctic regions to the Isthmus of Panama. The form 

 termed the Spectacled bear, which inhabits the wooded 

 slopes of the Andes and Cordilleras in Chili, is likewise 

 by many naturalists regarded as a mere variety of this 

 fpecies. The American black bear differs only in the 

 non-displayment of certain pale fulvous marks situated 

 on the throat and cheeks, and similar light hands round 

 the eyes frc^m which the Spectacled bear has derived its 

 name. Other varieties of tlie American black bear 

 have also been described. Tliis species is occasionally 

 as much as live feet in length, but it seldom exceeds 

 that measure. The fur is of a soft even texture, and 

 of a shining black colour. The head is comparatively 

 narrow ; the muzzle elongated and pointed. The claws 

 are sharp, strongly curved, and in great part concealed 

 by the hair. Like its congeners, it is partial to well- 

 wooded and rocky grounds. Here it feeds princijjally 

 upon vegetable matters, but often succeeds in capturing 

 quadrupeds and birds, wdiich it readily devours, as w-ell 

 as fish. When winter approaches, it retires either into 

 the hollow of some tree, or more commonly into a kind 

 of den amongst fallen trees or brushwood, wdicro it digs 

 up the soil in such a way as to scoop out a tolerably 

 secure and snug retreat. A small opening in its snow- 

 clad tenement allows fiesh air to enter. The American 

 black bear is naturally timid, nevertheless it is regarded 

 by the natives with considerable dread, chiefly it would 

 appear on superstitious grounds. In proof of this, we 

 produce the following interesting account by Mr. 

 Henry, an early travellei', who was in the neiglibour- 

 hood of Lake Michigan when the incident which he 

 here describes took place : — " In the course of the 

 month of January, I happened to observe that the 

 trunk of a very large pine tree was much torn by the 

 claws of a bear, made both in going up and down. On 

 further examination, I saw that there was a large 

 opening in the upper part, near which the smaller 

 branches were broken. From these marks, and from 

 tlie additional circumstance that there were no tracks 

 in the snow, there was reason to believe that a bear 

 lay concealed in the tree. On returning to the lodge, 

 1 communicated my discovery, and it was agreed that 

 all the family should go together in the morning to 

 assist in cutting down the tree, the girth of which was 

 was not less than three fathoms. The women at first 

 opposed the undertaking, because our axes, being only 

 of a pound and a half in sveight, were not well-adapted 

 to so heavy a labour ; but the hope of finding a large 

 bear, and obtaining from its fat a great quantity of oil, 

 an article at tlie time much wanted, at length prevailed. 

 Accordingly in the morning we stirroundcd the tree, 

 liolh men and women, as many at a time as could con- 

 veniently woik at it; and there we toiled like beavers 

 till the sun went down. This day's work cairied us 



about half-way through the trunk, and the next morn- 

 ing we renewed the atl:ack, continuing it till about two 

 o'clock in the afternoon, wdien the tree fell to the 

 ground. For a few minutes everything remained quiet, 

 and I feared that all our expectations would be disa]i- 

 pointed ; but as I advanced to the opening there came 

 out, to the great satisfaction of all our party, a bear of 

 extraordinary size, which I shot. The bear being dead, 

 all my assistants approached, and all, but particularly 

 my old mother (as I was wont to call her), took the 

 head in their hands, stroking and kissing it several 

 times, begging a thousand pardons for taking away her 

 life, calling her their relation and grandmother, and 

 requesting her not to lay the fault upon them, since it 

 was truly an Englishman that had put her to death. 

 This ceremony was not of long duration, and if it was I 

 that killed their grandmother they were not themselves 

 behind-hand in what remained to be done. The skin being 

 taken oft', we found the fat in several places six inches 

 deep. This being divided into two parts, loaded two 

 persons ; the fiesh parts were as much as four persons 

 could carry. In all, the carcass must have exceeded 

 five hundredweight. As soon as we reached the lodge 

 the bear's head was adorned with all the trinkets in 

 the possession of the family, such as silver arm-bands 

 and wrist-bands, and belts of wampum, and then laid 

 upon a scaffold set up for its reception within the lodge. 

 Near the nose was placed a large quantity of tobacco. 

 The next morning no sooner appeared than prepara- 

 tions wore made for a feast to the manes. The lodge 

 was cleaned and swept, and the head of the bear lifted 

 up, and a new Stroud blanket which had never been 

 used before laid under it. The pipes were now lit, and 

 Wawatam blew tobacco smoke into the nostrils of the 

 bear, telling me to do the same, and thus appease the 

 anger of the bear on account of my having killed her. 

 I endeavoured to persuade my benefactor and friendly 

 adviser that she no longer had any life, and assured 

 him that I was under no apprehension from her displea- 

 sure ; but the first proposition obtained no credit, and 

 the second gave but little satisfaction. At length, the 

 feast being ready, Wawatam made a speech resembling 

 in many respects his address to the manes of his rela- 

 tions and departed companions, but having this pecu- 

 liarity that he here deplored the necessity under which 

 men laboured thus to destro}' their friends. He repre- 

 sented, however, that the misfortune was unavoidal le, 

 since without doing so they could by no means subsist. 

 The speech ended, we all ate heartily of the bear's 

 flesh ; and even the head itself, after remaining three 

 days on the scaffold, was put info the kettle." Inde- 

 pendent of these statements, we have plenty of evidence 

 that the flesh of the American black bear is exceflent 

 eating ; and recently Mr. Oliphant, who has enjoyed 

 considerable experience of dilfercnt kinds of food both 

 in the eastern and western quiirters of the northern 

 hemisphere, declares for himself arid his companions 

 that it is a "royal feast." In the winter time the 

 female produces from one to five cubs, and in order 

 to secure her progeny' from the attack of other animals, 

 such as wolves and the like, she makes her lodging, as 

 we have seen, high up among the branches of thickly- 

 wooded trees. 



