B'ARS AND POSSUMS" 



379 



him is about as barbarous a sport as exists out of the 

 country of Bull iightiiig. Even if the Bear has done 

 evil things and you do not care for him, it is cruel to 

 urge spirited dogs within reach of his teeth and claws, 

 for Bruin is courageous when brought to bay and sells 

 his life dearl)^ 



" The Black Bear is ranked with flesh-eaters, but he 

 should have an order all to himself, to be called, 'The 

 Order of Gluttony,' for he is ready to eat anything at 

 any time, — fish, flesh, game, poultry, turtles' eggs, frogs, 

 fruits, and berries, all mixed together with as much honey 

 in the comb and out of it as he can scoop from hollow 

 trees, in spite of the pointed remonstrance of hordes of 

 angry bees. Honey failing, he will sit in a cherry tree 

 and gobble until you would expect to hear the cherry 

 stones rattling about inside him. 



Black Beab. 



