, 1875-01-30
Concerning Bears.

.lr-, gives US some useful information
The bear family (Ursid9) is found all
over the earth's surface except in Africa
and Australia. Regarding the existence
of the bear in Africa, there has long been
a difference Of opinion. Although allud-
ed to By several classical writers, the
opinion that it does not exist is held by
naturalists generally, and may Teasona-
bly, be entertained until cOnurOverted by
the finding of u specimen. The general
characteristics of the bear are the rough,
shaggy coat, the massiveness of the
hinder parts, the gait and the habit of
erecting the body upon the hind feet
when attacked. The feet are armed with
long, sharp claws, capable of inhicting
terrible wounds The bear is both car
niyorOus and vegetarian. II iS a gregdri-
Gus animal, extremely sOCiable and sub
jcct to strong attachments. 1t is = good
swimmer and an excellent climber. II is
a harmless animal when undisturbed,
but = formidable antagonist when at
tackled. Ia combat il Will ward of the
heaviest blows, rears upon It's hind feet,
strikes powerfully with its paws, cndcdv-
OrS to hug its adversary TO death, and in
Aicts fearful wounds with the claws of
its hind feet. Although ferocious when
aroused, hruin can be made the most
amusing and affcCtiOnatC Of pets. Dur
ing the autumn he becomes fat, and
about the end of October ceases feeding
for the year The stomach then contracts
into very small space, and the bear
keeps his den in dull, lethargic cOndi-
ton until April During this period
he gains a new skin upon the
balls Of his feet, and the female
brings forth her young The newly
born cubs are scarcely larger than pup
pies. The grizzly bear (Crsp9 hDyrtLits
or L. pe-0rl is of a mixed brOwnish and
Stecly-gray coat, great size, massive pro
portions and ferocious aspect. He has
Il great broad head, small, cruel brown
eye, pointed muZLlc and powerful jaws
which display Il set of alarming teeth.
His limbs indicate enormous strength,
and are each armed with tive-pOintcd
claws, from four to five inches long. His
tail is hidden by his coat. One Of his
most striking peculiaritieS Is his sham
bling gait His forc-limbS go in Il cantcr,
his head SwayS from side to side, and the
rest of his body slides along upon the
soIes of his hind feet The grizzly is the
largest member of the bear family full
grown male being from eight and half
to nine feet long, with equal girth. His
average weight is $50 pounds. His
haunts are the Rocky Mountains and the
plains eastward. His principal food is
flesh, but fruits and other vegetable sub
stances also form part Of his diet. The
grizzly is the most fcrOCiOUS and terrible
of all American animals He exercises
absolute terrorism over every living
creature that comes in his way. Even
the hungry wolf will flee at the sight of
his track and no animal will venture To
touch deer that has been killed and
left by him. His strength is such that
one blow from his paw has been known
To remove the entire scalp from mans
head So tenacious Of life is the grizzly
that, unless shot through the heart or
brain, his body may be riddled with bull
lets without fatal effect.
The black bear lErSuS AmeyioaHls) has
a glossy black coat, the hairs being much
shorter than those of the grizzly. The
muzzle is longer and narrower in proper
ton To the size of his head. His limbs
are less massive and proportionately
larger, the claws shorter and more
crooked. His eyes are larger, and pre-
sent rather a mild and gCOd-humOred AS
pect. When confined in a cage he shows
4 disposition to be sOCiable, puts his nose
through the bars and takes fragments OF
cake or other dclicacico from the chill
drcn. Vegetables constitute his princi-
pal food, he is a noted dcprcdatUr on
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 territUEy
The Young are brought forth during
Information in January or February.
The black bear is much hunted for its
skin, and the fat which constitutes the
esteemed bears grease of commerce. Its
flesh forms a good article Of food, IT,
sembling pork. The cinnamon bear is a
variety of the black bear, differing in
color 1t Is found in California, and
generally west of the Rocky Mountains.
The Malayan bear Is one of the smallest
of the UrsidB family, being about four
feet six inches long, lis color is deep
black, with a yellOWiSh muZZle, and
white spot on the breast. The neck is
shorter and thicker than in other species
II Is easily tanned, and becomes extreme
" dociIe- The specialized bear (ErslS
elrdtus), nhabiting the CordIlleraS
of South America, displays all the
features of the Malayan spe-
cies The brown bear lUrSus ArrtaSJ Is
the most widely distributed of the
species. 1t is found through Europe and
Northern Asia In size it is superior 10
the black, but inferior to the polar bear
The length is generally from about five
10 tve and half feet. and the weight
500 to coo pounds The ScandlnavianS
say that this bear has the strength Of
ten men and the sense of twelve" They
have also IA superstilious reverence for
il. and habitually avoid saying the
bear" substituting such appcllations a.
the "Old man with the fur cloak the
4. diSturber." the dog of GOD. etc. Re
ligiOus ceremonies follow the killing of
brown bear. the head being decorated
with trinketS and placed upon blanket.
The cunning Of the brown bear Is re-
markabie. When the circle of fire oh
structs his path he immer>es himself IN
the nearest stream, returns and rolls his
body on the brands until the flames are
smGthereG, when he VIII attack the
sleeper. The Asiatic or sloth bear JrsuS
Eq5iatll0 is distinguished from Other
bears by the length and fleNibility Of It's
lips. and the peculiar manner in which
the fore-feet cross each other in wa king.
The hair. which is black, hangs from the
I,...l and neck down over the face. II j
an inhabitant of the Himalayas, where Il
remains in caves, and performs its ram
bles by night. In the polar bear the
hear family possesses an aquatic men,
her. II is inferior in size only 10 the
rrizzlv. and is scarcely second to him in
Strength and ferocity. It's color Is silvery
white, tiDged with yellow. The neck Is
-. = hnn1 small sni nninred The