The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-04-23

The black bear has glossy back coat.
the hairs being much shorter than those
of the grizzly The muszle Is long and
narroweri in proportion to the size of the
head. His limbs are less massive and
proportionately larger, the claws shorter
and more crooked. His eyes are larger,
and present rather a mild and good
humored aspect. When confined in a
cage he shows disposition to be sociable,
puts his nose through the bars, and takes
fragment. Of cake or other delicacies
from the children. Vegetables constitutes
his principal food he is noted depre-
dator IN maize and melon fields, and
honey is his delight. The black bear is
common all over the eastern districts Of
the United States, from Maine TO Florida,
and over large portion Of the western
territory. The young are brought forth
during Information in January or Feb
ruary. The black bear is much hunted
for it. skin and the fat, which constitutes
the esleeified beaf's grease Of commerce.
Its flesh forms a good article Of food,
resembling pork. The cinnamon bear is
variety of the black bear, differing in
color. 1t is found in California, and
generally west of the Rocky Mountains
The Malatan bear Is one Of the smallest
Of the Urside family, being about four
feet six inches long. Its color is deep
black with yellowish muzzle and a
white spot on the breast. The neck is
shorter and thicker than in other species.
1t is easily tanned and becomes extremely
docile. The spectacled bear, inhabiting
the Cordilleras of South America, dis
plays all the features of the Malayan
species. The brown bear is the most
widely distributed of the species. 1t is
found through Esrope and Northern
Asia. In size tits superior to the black, but
inferior to the Polar bear. The length
is generally from five to five and a halt
feet, and the weight from five
hundred To six hundred pounds.
The Scandnavians say this bear
"has the strength of ten men and
the sense of twelve" They have also a
superstitious reverence for it, and
habitually avoid saying the bear" sub
stituting such apellations as the "old
man with the fur cloak, the disturber,"
the "dog of God, etc. Religious cere-
monies always following the killing of a
brown bear, the head being decorated
with trinkets and then placed upon a
blanket. The cunning of a brown bear
is remarkable. When the circle of fire
obstructs his path, he immerses himself
in the nearest stream, returns and rolls
his body on brands until the flames afe
entirely smothered, when he will at
tack the sleeper The Asiatic, or sloth
bear, is distinguished from other bears
by the length and fexibility of his lips,
and also by the very peculiar manner in
which the fore feet cross each other in
walking. The hair, which is black, hangs
from the head and the neck down over
the face. II is an inhabitant of the
Himalayas, where il generally remains
in caves in the daytime, and then per-
forms its rambles after night. In the
Polan bear the bear family possesses an
aquatic member. II is inferior in size to
the grizzly bear, and is scarcely second in
strength and ferocity. Its color is a
silvery white, and is tinged with yellow.
The neck is long, the head small and
pointed. The foot is also longer, and the
sole is covered with thick fur. The claws,
which are black, are slightly curved. The
Polar bear is necessarily carniverous, but
when captured il will subsist on vegetable
diet. II lives principally on fish and
seals, and will occasionally capture a
walrus. Its movements are remarkably
quick, and its mode Ct capture evidences
much sagacity, When the Polan bear
wishes TO catch basking seal he swims
in that direction under water, occasion
ally putting out his nose to catch a
breath. The seal, being fanked on ia
only side, falls AN easy prey. The mother
will die before leaving her cubs.