194 
AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. 
an axe, which killed him instanter. We jointly hurraed, and tying a rope 
round his neck, towed him ashore behind our boats. 
The Black Bear is very tenacious of life, and like its relative, the 
Grizzly Bear, is dangerous when irritated or wounded. It makes large 
beds of leaves and weeds or grasses, in the fissures of rocks, or sleeps in 
hollow logs, when no convenient den can be found in its neighbourhood ; 
it also makes lairs in the thick cane-brakes and deep swamps, and covers 
itself with a heap of leaves and twigs, like a wild sow when about to litter. 
The skin of the Black Bear is an excellent material for sleigh-robes, 
hammer-cloths, caps, &c., and makes a comfortable bed for the backwoods- 
man or Indian ; and the grease procured from this species is invaluable to 
the hair-dresser, being equal if not superior to 
“Thine incomparable oil Macassar!” 
which we (albeit unacquainted with the mode of preparing it) presume to 
be a compound much less expensive to the manufacturer than would be the 
“ genuine real Bear’s grease”— not of the shops, but of the prairies and 
western woods. 
The Black Bear is rather docile when in confinement, and a “ pet” Bear 
is occasionally seen in various parts of the country. In our large cities, 
however, where civilization (?) is thought to have made the greatest 
advances, this animal is used to amuse the gentlemen of the fancy, by 
putting its strength and “ pluck” to the test, in combat with bull-dogs or 
mastiffs. When the Bear has not been so closely imprisoned as to partially 
destroy his activity, these encounters generally end with the killing of one 
or more dogs ; but occasionally the dogs overpower him, and he is rescued 
for the time by his friends, to “ fight (again) some other day.” 
We are happy to say, however, that Bear-baiting and bull-baiting have 
not been as yet fully naturalized amongst us, and are only popular with 
those who, perhaps, in addition to the natural desire for excitement, have 
the hope and intention of winning money, to draw them to such cruel and 
useless exhibitions. 
Among the many Bear stories that have been published in the newspa- 
pers, and which, whether true or invented, are generally interesting, the 
following is one of the latest, the substance of which we will give, as nearly 
as we can recollect it : 
A young man in the State of Maine, whilst at work in a field, accompa- 
nied only by a small boy, was attacked by a Bear which suddenly 
approached from the edge of the forest, and quite unexpectedly fell upon 
him with great fury. Almost at the first onset the brute overthrew the 
young farmer, who fell to the ground on his back, with the Bear clutching 
