American Black Bear. 
45 
AMERICAN BLACK BEAR. (Ursus Americanns.) 
This animal inhabits the Northern districts of America, 
where it is found in considerable numbers. It is some- 
what smaller than the Brown or European Bear ; its 
colour of an uniform and glossy black. Its food consists 
chiefly of fruits, the young shoots, and roots of vege- 
tables and grain. In quest of these it occasionally emi- 
grates from the northern to the more southern regions. 
Their retreats, during the period of gestation, are so 
impenetrable, that althongh immense numbers of Bears 
are annually killed in America, a female is rarely found 
among them. In autumn, when they are become exceed- 
ingly fat by feeding on acorns and other similar food, 
their fle^h is extremely delicate, the hams in particular 
are highly esteemed, and the fat is remarkably white 
and sweet. At this time and during the winter, they 
are hunted, and killed in great numbers by the Ameri- 
can Indians. 
