THE BLACK BEAR. 
25 
THE BEAR TRIBE. 
Nearly all the Bears are of large size, and of great 
muscular powers. Their colors, with the exception of 
the White Bear of Greenland, are either brown or black. 
They are chiefly found among mountains, and in coun¬ 
tries thinly inhabited. Several of the species, during the 
winter, conceal themselves in caves, or hollow trees, 
where they lie in a torpid state, without food. 
All the Bears use their fore-feet with facility, some of 
them using their paws like hands in feeding themselves. 
Although slow in motion, when compared with the cat 
tribe, several of them climb trees with facility. Their 
food is chiefly nuts, grapes and other vegetables. 
THE BLACK BEAR. 
How large an animal is the Black Bear ? 
The Black Bear is as tall as a child of four years old, 
and as long as a bench on which four or five children can 
sit. He is iibout three feet high, and from four to five 
and a half feet long. 
What is the shape of this animal ? 
His legs are long, his body short and large ; his feet 
are long and end in five toes, which are armed by as 
many sharp nails. His nose is sharp, his eyes small, 
and his head large. 
What is his color ? 
His color is black, except about the face and nose, 
where it is light brown. 
What is his coat or covering ? 
The covering of the Black Bear, is a long, soft, woolly 
hair, which is thickest about the legs and under the 
chest, and thin on the back. 
What is the food of this animal ? 
His food is chiefly vegetables, such as acorns, chest¬ 
nuts, grapes and corn. He is also very fond of honey. 
When pressed with hunger, however, he eats animal 
food, and attacks other animals with fierceness and 
courage. 
{ Can this animal be tamed ? 
When taken young he is easily tamed, and is taught 
various tricks to amuse people. He will follow his mas- 
( ter, and obey his master’s commands. But still the 
i kindness and attachment of this creature is not to be 
( trusted, for if he should get angry, he will snap at the 
hand that feeds him, and even destroy his best friend. 
■ In what country is this animal found 1 
The Black Bear lives in the forests of North America. 
I He is also found in Europe, Asia and Africa. 
Does he find his food on the ground, or does he climb trees in search 
of it ? 
This animal finds most of his food on the ground, but 
■ when he is hungry, and cannot find enough on the 
v ground, he climbs the trees after more. When on the 
tree, he holds on to a limb with one paw, and reaches 
out the other to take hold of the fruit, just as a man 
would do with his bands. 
Where does this animal live, during the winter ? 
In the winter this Bear goes into his den, which is 
sometimes the hollow of an old tree, and there he lies 
in a sleepy or torpid state until spring. Whether he 
1 sucks his paw, or not, all this time, as some people 
think, no one knows. It is certain, however, that when 
he goes to sleep for the winter, he is commonly very fat, 
and that when he makes his appearance again in the 
spring, he is quite lean. 
( 
How does he live for several months without eating ? 
It is supposed that while he is fat, he has no appetite, 
\ and that his fat serves him instead of food. In the spring, 
when he comes out of his den, he has a most voracious 
appetite, eats every thing he can get, and soon grows fat 
again. 
ANECDOTE I. 
( 
Although the Black Bear appears like a dull and stu¬ 
pid animal, yet when taken young, he may be taught to 
perform tricks, which even in the more sagacious ani- 
' mals, would appear surprising. 
We have seen some very curious things done by 
a little Black Bear, which his master said came from 
Africa. This Bear, according to his own story, for he 
told us his age, was four and a half years old. His mas¬ 
ter said he had been about three years in learning him to 
play his tricks. 
The Bear was tied, by a rope, a yard or two long, to a 
staple driven into the floor. When persons went in to 
< see him perform, his master would take a parcel of cards, 
on each of which was printed, a capital letter, and place 
, them in a circle around him. The keeper would then 
( request one of the visitors to mention a short word, which 
hesaid the Bear would spell. If the word was John, the 
' keeper would say, Toby, which was the Bear’s name, 
the gentleman wishes you to spell John. On hearing 
(' this, the animal would go and bring the letter J in his 
