After some time spent in recovering the horses, we lifted the bear into
Jake's waggon, and proceeded on our journey. It was near evening,
however, and we soon after halted and formed camp. The bear was skinned
in a trice,--Ike and Redwood performing this operation with the
dexterity of a pair of butchers; of course "bear-meat" was the principal
dish for supper; and although some may think this rather a savage feast,
I envy those who are in the way of a bear-ham now.
Of course for that evening nothing was talked of but Bruin, and a good
many anecdotes were related about the beast. With the exception of the
doctor, Jake and Lanty, all of us had something to say upon that
subject, for all the rest had more or less practice in bear-hunting.
The black or "American bear" (_Ursus Americanus_) is one of the
best-known of his tribe. It is he that is oftenest seen in menageries
and zoological gardens, for the reason, perhaps, that he is found in
great plenty in a country of large commercial intercourse with other
nations. Hence he is more frequently captured and exported to all
parts.
Any one at a glance may distinguish him from the "brown bear" of Europe,
as well as the other bears of the Eastern continent--not so much by his
colour (for he is sometimes brown too), as by his form and the
regularity and smoothness of his coat. He may be as easily
distinguished, too, from his congeners of North America--of which there
are three--the grizzly (_Ursus ferox_), the brown (_Ursus arctus_), and
the "polar" (_Ursus maritimus_). The hair upon other large bears (the
polar excepted) is what may be termed "tufty," and their forms are
different, being generally more uncouth and "chunkier." The black bear
is, in fact, nearer to the polar in shape, as well as in the arrangement
of his fur,--than to any other of the tribe. He is much smaller,
however, rarely exceeding two-thirds the weight of large specimens of
the latter.
His colour is usually a deep black all over the body, with a patch of
rich yellowish red upon the muzzle, where the hair is short and smooth.
This ornamental patch is sometimes absent, and varieties of the black
bear are seen of very different colours. Brown ones are common in some
parts, and others of a cinnamon colour, and still others with white
markings, but these last are rare. They are all of one species,
however, the assertion of some naturalists to the contrary
notwithstanding. The proof is, that the black varieties have been seen
followed by coloured cubs, and _vice versa_.
The black bear is omnivorous--feeds upon flesh as well as fruit, nuts,
and edible roots. Habitually his diet is not carnivorous, but he will
eat at times either carrion or living flesh. We say living flesh, for
on capturing prey he does not wait to kill it, as most carnivorous
animals, but tears and destroys it while still screaming. He may be
said to swallow some of his food alive!
Of honey he is especially fond, and robs the bee-hive whenever it is
accessible to him. It is not safe from him even in the top of a tree,
provided the entrance to it is large enough to admit his body; and when
it is not, he often contrives to make it so by means of his sharp claws.
He has but little fear of the stings of the angry bees. His shaggy
coat and thick hide afford him ample protection against such puny
weapons. It is supposed that he spends a good deal of his time ranging
the forest in search of "bee trees."
Of course he is a tree-climber--climbs by the "hug," not by means of his
claws, as do animals of the cat kind; and in getting to the ground again
descends the trunk, stern-foremost, as a hod-carrier would come down a
ladder. In this he again differs from the _felidae_.
The range of the black bear is extensive--in fact it may be said to be
colimital with the forest, both in North and South America--though in
the latter division of the continent, another species of large black
bear exists, the _Ursus ornatas_. In the northern continent the
American bear is found in all the wooded parts from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, but not in the open and prairie districts. There the grizzly
holds dominion, though both of them range together in the wooded valleys
of the Rocky Mountains. The grizzly, on the other hand, is only met
with west of the Mississippi, and affects the dry desert countries of
the uninhabited West. The brown bear, supposed to be identical with the
_Ursus arctus_ of North Europe, is only met with in the wild and
treeless track known as "Barren grounds," which stretch across nearly
the whole northern part of the continent from the last timber to the
shores of the Arctic Sea, and in this region the black bear is not
found. The zone of the polar bear joins with that of the brown, and the
range of the former extends perhaps to the pole itself.
At the time of the colonisation of America, the area of the present
United States was the favourite home of the black bear. It was a
country entirely covered with thick forests, and of course a suitable
_habitat_ for him. Even to this day a considerable number of bears is
to be found within the limits of the settlements. Scarcely a State in
which some wild woodlands or mountain fastnesses do not afford shelter
to a number of bears, and to kill one of them is a grand object of the
hunter's ambition. Along the whole range of the Alleghanies black bears
are yet found, and it will be long ere they are finally extirpated from
such haunts. In the Western States they are still more common, where
they inhabit the gloomy forests along the rivers, and creek bottoms,
protected alike by the thick undergrowth and the swampy nature of the
soil.
Their den is usually in a hollow tree--sometimes a prostrate log if the
latter be large enough, and in such a position as is not likely to be
observed by the passing hunter. A cave in the rocks is also their
favourite lair, when the geological structure of the country offers them
so secure a retreat. They are safer thus; for when a bear-tree or log
has been discovered by either hunter or farmer the bear has not much
chance of escape. The squirrel is safe enough, as his capture will not
repay the trouble of felling the tree; but such noble game as a bear
will repay whole hours of hard work with the axe.
The black bear lies torpid during several months of the winter. The
time of his hibernation depends upon the latitude of the place and the
coldness of the climate. As you approach the south this period becomes
shorter and shorter, until in the tropical forests, where frost is
unknown, the black bear ranges throughout the year.
The mode of hunting the black bear does not differ from that practised
with the fox or wild cat. He is usually chased by dogs, and forced into
his cave or a tree. If the former, he is shot down, or the tree, if
hollow, is felled. Sometimes smoking brings him out. If he escapes to
a cave, smoking is also tried; but if that will not succeed in
dislodging him, he must be left alone, as no dogs will venture to attack
him there.
The hunter often tracks and kills him in the woods with a bullet from
his rifle. He will not turn upon man unless when wounded or brought to
bay. Then his assault is to be dreaded. Should he grasp the hunter
between his great forearms, the latter will stand a fair chance of being
hugged to death. He does not attempt to use his teeth like the grizzly
bear, but relies upon the muscular power of his arms. The nose appears
to be his tenderest part, and his antagonist, if an old bear-hunter, and
sufficiently cool, will use every effort to strike him there. A blow
upon the snout has often caused the black bear to let go his hold, and
retreat terrified!
The log trap is sometimes tried with success. This is constructed in
such a way that the removal of the bait operates upon a trigger, and a
large heavy log comes down on the animal removing it--either crushing it
to death or holding it fast by pressure. A limb is sometimes only
caught; but this proves sufficient.
The same kind of trap is used throughout the northern regions of America
by the fur trappers--particularly the sable hunters and trappers of the
white weasel (_Mustela erminea_). Of course that for the bear is
constructed of the heaviest logs, and is of large dimensions.
Redwood related an adventure that had befallen him while trapping the
black bear at an earlier period of his life. It had nearly cost him his
life too, and a slight halt in his gait could still be observed,
resulting from that very adventure.
We all collected around the blazing logs to listen to the trapper's
story.