II 



feeder on insects. I have observed that its feces contain, in large 

 proportions, the undigested fragments of coleopterous insects. 



Of the weasel proper, Puto?-ius, four species probably remain in 

 Connecticut. These are : the least, the small brown, Richardson's, 

 and the New York weasel. They are not numerous enough, how- 

 ever, to appreciably reduce the number of rats of which they are 

 the mortal enemy. 



The family next in order is the bear, which includes (in Con- 

 necticut) the bear and the raccoon. The American black bear, 

 Ursus Americanus, was the only strictly plantigrade creature we had 

 in this state. Lacking a collar bone (and thus being able to bring 

 its shoulders closely together), and being able to walk on its hinder 

 feet — it was a powerful if not an affectionate hugger. Besides 

 honey, acorns, grapes, and green corn, it invaded the pig-sty of 

 the farmer and bore away his pigs. It was easily captured by 

 trapping, clubbing, and shooting. It does not appear that our 

 General Assembly ever offered a bounty for the destruction of 

 bears. It is safe to say that, perhaps for fifty years, the bear has 

 been extinct in Connecticut ; but he still abides in northern New 

 England and in the Adirondack wilds, in company with the deer, 

 panthers, etc., some of whose ancestors fled thither from this state. 

 Linsley said, in 1842, that bears had been killed in this state within 

 his recollection, and he was then 55 years old. 



Jacob Beach, heretofore mentioned, said, to an audience of 

 his townspeople, in Goshen, in 1839, that he had killed seventeen 

 bears in one year in that township. Samuel Wilcox, at the same 

 time and on the same occasion, said that he had killed sixteen in 

 one year in Goshen. About 1810 bears were seen in Harwinton 

 village, and one of them was killed. In September, 1766, one was 

 found in an enclosure near the residence of Joseph Talcott (west 

 side of Main street) in Hartford. The animal escaped into Main 

 street and. was pursued by people armed with sticks and stones, as 

 far south as Buckingham street. Thence he turned easterly, 

 through Charter Oak street, and reached the South Meadow, 

 where he was shot. There still remain buildings on Main street 

 from which were witnessed that wild-bear hunt in our principal 

 thoroughfare. I have been in a house in South Wethersfield, from 

 the back door of which a bear was shot by the grandfather of the 

 person who gave me the particulars. A remnant of the little 

 grove of black-oak trees in which the bear was killed may still be 

 seen. 



The other member of the bear family is our raccoon, Procyon 

 lotor. This pretty climbing creature is easily domesticated. He 

 has a habit of washing his food, and hence his specific name, lotor. 

 It may be found in this county and within a few miles of this city. 

 He is quite partial to the ears of green corn. 



