164 
YERTEBIiATA. 
the less settled countries, with the exception of California, where it seems to be replaced by the 
grizzly bear. It is occasionally met with iji the mountainous parts of Maine, New Hampshire, 
and Vermont : in the uninhabited wooded regions of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania 
it is common. 
The total length of an adult of this species seldom exceeds six feet. Its favorite food appears 
to be berries of various kinds, but when these are not to be procured, it preys upon roots, insects, 
fish, eggs, and such birds or quadrupeds as it can surprise. It does not eat animal food from 
choice, for when it has abundance of its favorite vegetable diet it will pass the carcass of a deer 
without touching it. Its haunts are in the gloomy forests, its chief hapi>iness seeming to consist 
in solitude. Its aspect is eminently savage and morose, and even when partially domesticated, it 
does not appear to have the sociable and humorous, qualities of the European bear. It is a timid 
animal, and will seldom face a man unless it is woimded, or has its. retreat cnt off, or is urged by 
affection to defend its young. AVhen resident in the fur countries, it almost invariably hibernates, 
and about one thousand skins are annually procured by the Hudson's Bay Company from black 
bears destroyed in their wintci retreats. It generally selects a spot for its den under a fallen 
tree, and, having scratched away a portion of the soil, retires to it at the commencement of a 
snow-storm, when the snow soon furnishes it with a close, warm covering. Its breath makes a 
small opening in the den, and the quantity of hoar frost which occasionally gathers round the 
aj)erture often serves to betray its retreat to the hunter. 
In more southern districts, where the timber is of a large size, these bears often shelter them- 
selves in hollow trees. The Indians remark that a bear never retires to its den for the winter 
until it has acquired a thick coat of fat ; and it is remarkable that when it comes abroad in the 
spring it is equally fat, though in a few days thereafter it becomes very lean. The period of the 
retreat of the bears is generally about the time when the suoav begins to lie on the ground, and 
they do not come abroad again until the greater part of the snow is gone. At both these periods 
they can procure many kinds of berries in considerable abundance. In latitude 65° their winter 
repose lasts from the beginning of October to the first or second week of May ; but on the 
northern shores of Lake Huron, the period is from two to three months shorter. In very severe 
winters, great numbers of bears have been observed to enter the United States from the north- 
ward. Like the deer and bison, they change their haunts with the season, but it is not true, 
as has been asserted, that they generally abandon the northern districts on the approach of 
winter ; the quantity of bear-skins procured during that season in all parts of the fur countries 
being a sufficient proof to the contrary. The females bring forth about the middle of January ; 
the number of cubs varies from one to five. 
During the spring months, this bear lives on succulent plants along the margins of lakes and 
ponds ; in summer, it secludes itself in the gloomy swamps, where it feeds on roots, nettles, fish, 
and small mollusca. Occasionally a stray pig, calf, or cow diversifies its bill of fare. One of its 
great pleasures is to wallow in the mud like a hog. Sometimes it makes a foray into the cornfields, 
where it causes great havoc. As autumn advances, nuts, acorns, grapes, berries and mast become 
its food. About the same time, many a bee-tree is ravaged of its honey to feed this avaricious 
and greedy brute. At this season it roams the woods alone, occasionally embracing the trunk of 
a tree with its arms, tearing the bark with its paws, and clashing its teeth till the foam gushes 
from the mouth — as if to keep itself in training for the chase — and then goes on its way. 
The young bears are not much bigger than kittens at the time of their birth. They lie care- 
fully hidden in some cave or hollow tree till they are able to go forth. They are sportive 
creatures, full of pranks, — running, leaping, wrestling, and playing hide-and-seek, like a parcel of 
boys. The young cubs are indeed as harmless and sportive as puppies. The hunters tell us that 
they often go off and hide themselves, to tease their anxious mothers. After a time the undutiful 
cubs come back grinning and leering, and seem to think it an excellent joke. If captured early, 
these creatures may be trained to a certain degree of tameness, and may be taught many tricks 
— though, as before remarked, they are less docile than the European bears. 
The black bear, in spite of his clumsy shape, wallops over the ground with great speed. If 
closely pursued by dogs, it climbs a tree, but descends and gives battle on the approach of the 
