THE BLACK BEAR—COMEDIAN III 
In the majority of cases the mother appears 
to wean the cubs during the first autumn of their 
lives. The cubs then den up together that win- 
ter. In a number of cases, whenever the cubs 
are not weaned until the second autumn, they 
are certain to den up with their mother the first 
winter. The second winter the young den up 
together. Though eager for play, brother and 
sister cubs do not play together after the second 
summer. When older than two years they play 
alone or with other bears of the same age. 
Young black bears have good tempers and 
are playful in captivity. But if teased or an- 
noyed they become troublesome and even dan- 
gerous with age. If thine enemy offend thee 
present him with a black bear cub that has been 
mistreated. He is an intense, high-strung ani- 
mal, and if subjected to annoyances, teasing, or 
occasional cruelty, becomes revengeful and vin- 
dictive. Sometimes he will even look for 
trouble, and once in a fight has the tenacity of 
a bulldog. 
Two bears that I raised were exceedingly good- 
tempered and never looked for trouble. I have 
known other similar instances. I am inclined 
to conclude that with uniformly kind treatment 
the black bear would always have a kind dis- 
position. 
For a year or two a dissipated cruiser and his 
