The National tribune., 1889-10-31

M NNITb,fV ~ Polar or Ice bear
\\Nkf9NW equally extensive. The
HelarctOs ornatus,
SPECTACLED BEAR. however, the orna-
mented sun bear, or Specialized bear, OF South
America, is confined to high attitudes in the
forests of the Peruvian and Chilian Andes.
and on account Of the inaccessibility of its
habitat has been less observed in the wild state
than most other species OF the arctoid genera.
There is but one species of this genus the
members Of which average a length of from
three 20 three and a half feet. Its color is
black, and there rings of lighter-tinted hair
around the eyes, that have given rise 10 the
designstive expression "Spectacled bear"
Whether the generic title, "0mamented sun
bear be considered an appropriate one, de-
pends in great measure upon individual taste.
In captivity this creature stares at the be-
holder with mild and dexpressionlesse eyes, main
tanning an absurd gravity aud sedateness OF
department which, with its face markings,
make il look like q caricature. Unlike its
namesake, the Malayan Sun bear, its spirits are
low, ii PLAYS no tricks learns little or nothing,
and is, upon the whole. as melancholy and
stupid as Quichua Indian, according TO Sebas-
tisn LOrente's description.
These traits are in nowise characteristic of
the South Asian animal with whom it has been
incorrectly allied as a variety. But if it be
nothing else, the Sun bear of the American
C0rdillera is at least long descended, and there
seems 20 be little doubt that Wallace was right
in looking upon Bund's ArctOtherium of the
Brazilian caves as its fossil ancestor. The Black
bear-Ursus Observation-Disclosures TO the
temperate ATTITUDES OF North America, is a very
different creature from the former one S.
Lockwood quotes Henry Clapp 20 the effect that
this animal varies exceedingly in color, size,
and disposition" In weight the adult may be
200 or 400 pounds, though its hue is always of
q uniform glossy black or deep brown. How
Il ~.
Tiation from black 10 be, the fact naturally
introduces certain generally acknowledged va
rieties Of the Black bear: namely, those known
as the Cinnamon bear Of the Rocky Mountains,
the Yellow bear and the Ranger" Prof Baird
regarded the first as undoubtedly a variety,
the Ranger Dekay asserts TO be only lean
Black bear whose legs look longer on account
OF its leanness, and which. for the same reason,
is more active, speedy and enduring than a
fatter animal. In Washington Territory Rob
ert heunicOtt found yellow aud black cubs IN
the same litter; and as for
THE HOG BEAR OF HUNTERS AND TRAPPERs,
its deeper shade and shorter legs, as permanent
features, exist only IN the imaginations OF these
gentry, who have been in all countries. and for
obvious reasons, the prolific species makers in
the animal groups that came under their OBJ
servation.
Speaking Of Black bears generally, there is
little or no doubt that whether they were orig
inally vegetarisHs or not, they are now nearly
omniVorons, and IN many localities have devel-
Oped strongly-marked carnivOrOus propensities.
That they will kill or eat domestic animals
pigs, sheep, etc,-dOes not admit Of question,
and that the bear is on occasion true hunter
Of wild game seems 20 be equally certain. Be
sides mast. nuts, acorns. fruits, grains. it has
been remarked as a surprising Deculiarity
that he viii consume the highly-puu-
gent bulb OF the Indian-tuTnip. Eceentrici-
ties Of appetite are, however, by no
means uncommon among animals. I be Sou
dan goat for example. brOwses on the leaves
and stems Of the Asclepias gigantea. whose milk
is an sctiVe irritant poison. Camels on the
Upper Nile feed upon SIENNA leaves with per
feet impnnify, Sir Samuel Baker says. Col.
Davidson reports that the India hornbill eats
the seeds Of StrychnOs Bux vomica, and
whether the large green parrots of southwest
ern Mexico actually swallow this poison or not
they constantly light upon the tree break open
the pods, and chip these seeds with their beaks.
During the season when he is active the
Black bear ranges the country In search Of bis
varied diet: apples-but only sweet ones, ber-
ries insects. mOlIusks, fish. with the substances
already mentioned. Like the other members
Of biz family, he is well armed with tooth and
claw, is very strong. active with his fore-limbs
and has much tenaeity Of life, 50 that when he
comes 10 hay or attacks this bear il a fOrmid-
able antagonist The Black cat is the deter
mined enemy and destroyer Of cubs, but bTuin
himself has no dangerous zoe but man. In
certain parts q the continent the Back bear
ranges with theGrizzly. yet the latter does not
apparently, modest him. aud IN this Is more for
bearing than the tiger is toward the Jungle
species q India, whom il is not uncommon for
the great cat 10 deVOur.
Toward Winter the bear is very fat and when
cold weather sets in he hibernates-the male
In . cave or excavation beneath the roots Of a
tree, and the female usually in one probably
a. being within the hollow trunk more com
pieiely projected from the weather when her
cubs are born, which they are during this
SeFipd.
Early IN February from two 20 five young
Ones-but rarely 50 many as hVe-make their
appearance, and the mother, who has already
proved herself exceptional in producing them
while she was half asleep, exhibits the still
greater anomaly Of
sUCKLISG THEM WHILE FASTING.
The American Black bear Is considered 20 be
typical among hybernsting animals. Hyber-
nation Is a natural sleep and during this there
must be a certain amount Of tissue waste A
tappen, formed Of its hardened contents. closes
the alimeutaTy canal and Is said 70 cause the
animal much pain in ezcreting. Some writers
affirm that this closure is often incOmplete. and
that when this is the case the bears glunber Is
interrupted and he sallIcs from bis lair Ger
tain authors also maintain that the creature js
invariably fat when be awakens ia the Spring,
while oihers'deny this. Probably his weight
a. this time will approximate closely 10 that AZ
which bybernation commenced, and IL Is not
likely that every bear was in equally good con-
dlti0n.
Wien circumstances arc favorable this species
hyDeTuates IN captivity. aud l.. Lloyd and also
M. Falk say the Brown bear Of Scandinavia
viii do the same. Like the Indian bear Of the
plains, that Of North America forayg wasDs'
nests and bees combs, and seems equally proof
against their Etings. Otherwise lie Is far more
sagacOus than his Oriental ally, being difficult
70 trap, aud often passing under the engine,
like The lion and the fox. No such accounts
however, as are prevalent IN that country OF
the Swedish bears. have come under the au-
th0Ts p0tice-viZ, that they spring tie tran.
and, being indignant az the attempt 10 catch
them, place q root or fallen limb In It's laws by
way oi derisi0n. Bgtute as he undoubtedly Is
the Back bear frequently becomes the victim
Of Journalism. de IL too much the slave Of
habit, aud not only frequents the same range
year after year, but marks bis track by persjst.
entity biting and scratching the trees as he goes
by. Ills scent is very acute, aud Capt Marcy
states that before lying up he makes circuit
down wind, Ia the same manner as Lord Dun.
raven, Charles Ward aud others describe the
moose as doing. When pressed, the animal
Will often take refuge in caves or holes in the
earth, and II an attempt is made 10 smoke him
OUt Il is said that be will beat cut the fire with
bla paws. Ia the event Of an actual conflict al
close quarters, the general opinion appears q
D. That our bear ike that al Ind IA nd eub