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AMERICAN BLACK BEAR, 
parts of the “ back woods,” but in some portions of Carolina and Georgia, 
where the vast swamps prevent any attempt to settle or cultivate the land, 
they have within a few years been on the increase, and have become 
destroyers of the young stock of the Planter (which generally range through 
the woods) to a considerable extent. 
Sir John Richardson says that when resident in the fur countries this 
Bear almost invariably hibernates, and that about one thousand skins are 
annually procured by the Hudson’s Bay Company from those that are 
destroyed in their winter 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 
aperture serves to betray its retreat to the hunter.” 
The Black Bear is somewhat migratory, and in hard winters is found to 
move southwardly in considerable numbers, although not in company. 
They couple in September or October, after which the females retire to 
their dens before the setting in of very cold weather. 
It is said that the males do not so soon resort to winter quarters as the 
females, and require some time after the love season to recover their lost 
fat. The females bring forth about the beginning of January. 
The Indian tribes have many superstitions concerning the Bear, and it 
is with some of them necessary to go through divers ceremonies before 
proceeding to hunt the animal. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
The Black Bear has been found throughout North America in every 
wooded district from the north through all the States to Mexico, but has 
not hitherto been discovered in California, where it appears to be replaced 
by the Grizzly Bear (Ursus ferox), 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
This species was in the early stages of natural history regarded as 
identical with the Black Bear of Europe. Pallas first described it as a 
distinct animal, since which its specific name has remained undisturbed ; 
its varieties have however produced much speculation, and it has frequently 
been supposed, apd not without some reason, that the Brown Bear of our 
western country was a species differing from the Black Bear. 
In order to arrive at a correct conclusion on this subject we must be 
