THE AMERICAN BEAR. 357 



exercised upon any part of the brute creation by 

 our fellow-men. That these should be rewarded by 

 numbers of unthinking people, who crowd around 

 to see the animal's rude attempts to imitate human 

 actions^ is not to be wondered at : but it is much 

 to be wished that the timely interference of the 

 magistrate would prevent every exhibition of the 

 kind ; that in England^ at least, we might not be 

 reproached with tolerating practices so disgraceful to 

 humanity*. — Thanks to the improving taste of the 

 times ! the inhuman custom of Bear-hauhig is 

 nearly destroyed in our country. This was formerly 

 one of the most favourite diversions in England, and 

 esteemed deserving of the attention of people of 

 fashion : even the British sovereign has soinetimes 

 given a sanction to the Bear-garden^ by personal 

 attendance. In Queen Elizabeth's days, it was 

 thought an entertainment suitable for a treat to a 

 foreign ambassador ; and when she visited Kenel- 

 worth castle, it was one of the various amusements 

 prepared for her Majesty. Many of the nobihty kept 

 also their bear- ward, and animals for this brutal 

 diversion, with which their Christmas gambols were 

 principally enlivened \. 



THE AMERICAN BEAR \. 



The American Bear differs from the European 

 species, principally in being smaller ; and in having a 

 more lengthened head, pointed nose, and longer 



* Bew. auad. 263. t I'enn. Brit. Zool. i. 79- 



% SynonY-MS. — Uisus Americanus. L/«/;.— Black Bear. Venn. 



A a 3 



