-UrSIDjE, 
82 Uusii)^. MAMMALIA. 
and even allows strangers to do so ; but it violently 
resents abuse and ill-treatment, and, having been irri- 
tated, refuses to be courted while the offending person 
remains in sight.” This unfortunate animal died sud- 
denly one summer’s morning, after having gorged itself 
with a too hearty meal. 
THE BLACK BEAK {Ursus americanus) is a well- 
known species, inhabiting the American continent from 
the shores of the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the 
Arctic regions to the Isthmus of Panama.- The form 
termed the Spectacled bear, which inhabits the wooded 
slopes of the Andes and Cordilleras in Chili, is likewise 
by many naturalists regarded as a mere variety of this 
species. The American black bear differs only in the 
non-displayment of certain pale fulvous marks situated 
on the throat and cheeks, and similar light bands round 
the eyes from which the Spectacled bear has derived its 
name. Other varieties of the American black bear 
have also been described. This species is occasionally 
as much as five feet in length, but it seldom exceeds 
that measure. The fur is of a soft even texture, and 
of a shining black colour. The head is comparatively 
narrow ; the muzzle elongated and pointed. The claws 
are sharp, strongly curved, and in great part concealed 
by the hair. Like its congeners, it is partial to well- 
wooded and rocky grounds. Here it feeds principally 
upon vegetable matters, but often succeeds in capturing 
quadrupeds and birds, which it readily devours, as well 
as fish. When winter approaches, it retires either into 
the hollow of some tree, or more commonly into a kind 
of den amongst fallen trees or brushwood, where it digs 
up the soil in such a way as to scoop out a tolerably 
secure and snug retreat. A small opening in its snow- 
clad tenement allows fresh air to enter. The American 
black bear is naturally timid, nevertheless it is regarded 
by the natives with considerable dread, chiefly it would 
appear on superstitious grounds. In proof of this, we 
produce the following interesting account by Mr. 
Henry, an early traveller, who was in the neighbour- 
hood of Lake Michigan when the incident which he 
here describes took place: — “In the course of the 
month of January, I happened to observe that the 
trunk of a very large pine tree was much torn by the 
claws of a bear, made both in going up and down. On 
further examination, I saw that there was a large 
opening in the upper part, near which the smaller 
branches were broken. From these marks, and from 
the additional circumstance that there were no tracks 
in the snow, there was reason to believe that a bear 
lay concealed in the tree. On returning to the lodge, 
I communicated my discovery, and it was agreed that 
all the family should go together in the morning to 
assist in cutting down the tree, the girth of which was 
was not less than three fathoms. The women at first 
opposed the undertaking, because our axes, being only 
of a pound and a half in weight, were not well-adapted 
to so heavy a labour ; but the hope of finding a large 
bear, and obtaining from its fat a great quantity of oil, 
an article at the time much wanted, at length prevailed. 
Accordingly in the morning we surrounded the tree, 
both men and women, as many at a time as could con- 
veniently work at it ; and there we toiled like beavers 
till the sun went down. This day’s work carried us 
about half-way through the trunk, and the next morn- 
ing we renewed the attack, continuing it till about two 
o’clock in the afternoon, when the tree fell to the 
ground. For a few minutes everything remained quiet, 
and I feared that all our expectations would be disap- 
pointed ; but as I advanced to the opening there came 
out, to the great satisfaction of all our party, a bear of 
extraordinary size, which I shot. The bear being dead, 
all my assistants approached, and all, but particularly 
my old mother (as I was wont to call her), took the 
head in their hands, stroking and kissing it several 
times, begging a thousand pardons for taking away her 
life, calling her their relation and grandmother, and 
requesting her not to lay the fault upon them, since it 
was truly an Englishman that had put her to death. 
This ceremony was not of long duration, and if it was I 
that killed their grandmother they were not themselves 
behind-handinwhatremainedto be done. Theskinbeing 
taken off, we found the fat in several places six inches 
deep. This being divided into two parts, loaded two 
persons ; the flesh parts were as much as four persons 
could carry. In all, the carcass must have exceeded 
five hundredweight. As soon as we reached the lodge 
the bear’s head was adorned with all the trinkets in 
the possession of the family, such as silver arm-bands 
and wrist-bands, and belts of wampum, and then laid 
upon a scaffold set up for its reception within the lodge. 
Near the nose was placed a large quantity of tobacco. 
The next morning no sooner appeared than prepara- 
tions were made for a feast to the manes. The lodge 
was cleaned and swept, and the head of the bear lifted 
up, and a new Stroud blanket which had never been 
used before laid under it. The pipes were now lit, and 
Wawatam blew tobacco smoke into the nostrils of the 
bear, telling me to do the same, and thus appease the 
anger of the bear on account of my having killed her. 
I endeavoured to persuade my benefactor and friendly 
adviser that she no longer had any life, and assured 
him that I was under no apprehension from her displea- 
sure ; but the first proposition obtained no credit, and 
the second gave but little satisfaction. At length, the 
feast being ready, Wawatam made a speech resembling 
'in many respects his address to the manes of his rela- 
tions and departed companions, but having this pecu- 
liarity that he here deplored the necessity under which 
men laboured thus to destroy their friends. He repre- 
sented, however, that the misfortune was unavoidable, 
since without doing so they could by no means subsist. 
The speech ended, we all ate heartily of the bear’s 
flesh ; and even the head itself, after remaining three 
days on the scaffold, was put into the kettle.” Inde- 
pendent of these statements, we have plenty of evidence 
that the flesh of the American black bear is excellent 
eating; and recently Mr. Oliphant, who has enjoyed 
considerable experience of different kinds of food both 
in the eastern and western quarters of the northern 
hemisphere, declares for himself and his companions 
that it is a “royal feast.” In the winter time the 
female produces from one to five cubs, and in order 
to secure her progenj' from the attack of other animals, 
such as wolves and the like, she makes her lodging, as 
we have seen, high up among the branches of thickly- 
wooded trees. 
V 
