THE KIKG OF THE WILDERNESS. 199 



worthy as a pet* Mr. Ward confesses that his own 

 efforts to tame young bears have not always been re- 

 warded with perfect success, and he mildly writes 

 that it is an unpleasant experience to return home 

 from a journey and find the house surrounded by 

 neighbors armed with pitchforks and muskets, the 

 family shut up in the dining-room, and the pet bear, 

 in a ferocious temper, having things all his own way. 

 " ISTevertheless," adds Mr. Ward, " if one is wiUing 

 to endure that sort of thing, a vast amount of amuse- 

 ment can be got out of a tame bear." 



The black bear is remarkable for its magnificent 

 fur, which, when properly dressed, possesses great 

 softness and luster combined with dura- 

 bility. At the close of autumn, 

 when bruin has had plenty to 

 eat, and he is sleek and fat 

 with the rich mast gathered 

 from the beech forest, he is 

 jet-black excepting his muzzle, 

 Bruin's proflie. which is fawu color at the nose 



deepening to tan color near the 

 eyes ; over each eye there is a spot of tan brown. 

 The profile of the black bear's face is characterized 

 by a delicate convex line from nose to forehead ; the 



* Read Bret Hart's charming story of Baby Sylvester, in the 

 St. Nicholas for July, 1874, vol. i. 



