AMERICAN BEAR. 455 
they are said to be blind for nearly the space of a 
month. 
AMERICAN BEAR. 
Ursus Americanus. U. niger, gula genisque fermgineis. Uti, 
Si/st. Nat. Gmel.p. loi. Pall, spic, zool. 14. p. 6, 26. 
Black Bear, with ferruginous cheeks and throat. 
Black Bear. Pennant Quadr. 2.. p. 4. Arct, zool. ed. 2, No. 19. 
This, which is now considered as a distinct 
species, and not to be confounded with the Black 
Bear of Europe, has a long, pointed nose, and 
narrow forehead : the cheeks and throat of a yel- 
lowish brown colour; the hair on the whole body 
and limbs of a glossy black, smoother and shorter 
than that of the European kind. It is also said 
to be, in general, smaller than the European Bear, 
though instances have been known in which it3 
size, at least, equalled the European, since Mr. 
Bartram assures us, that a Bear was killed in Flo- 
rida Avhich weighed four hundred pounds. 
This animal inhabits all the northern parts of 
America, migrating occasionally from the north- 
ern to the more southerly parts in quest of food, 
which is said to be entirely vegetable ; and it is 
even affirmed, that, when pressed by extreme 
want, they will still neglect all animal food when- 
ever they can obtain a supply of roots and grain. 
They, however, sometimes destroy fish, and par- 
ticularly herrings, when these fish happen to come 
up into the creeks in shoals. They are said to 
