[8.] 1. U r s u s A m e r ic a n u s . (Pallas.) American Black-Bear.
Black Bear. Pennant. Arct. Zool., vol. i. p. 57, and Introduction, p. cxs. Hist. Quad., vol. ii. p. II.
W arden. United States, vol. i. p. 195.
God man. Hat. Hist., vol. i. p. 194.
Ursus Americanus. Pallas. Spicel. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 6__26.
Harlan. Fauna, p. 51.
Sass. Chepewyan I ndians.
Musquaw (pi. musquawuck). . Cree I ndians, or, when reference is made to the black colour of the fur, it is termed
cuskeeteh musquaw. The cinnamon-coloured variety is named oosaw-wusquaw, the first letter of the proper
name being altered euphonies causa. r ■ |
Mucquaw. Algonquins. Maconsh (a young bear.) I idem.
The different species of Bears resemble each other so strongly in form; and
colour, when described by general and frequently indefined terms, affords so uncertain
a mark of discrimination, that much doubt has arisen as to what are species
and what merely varieties. These doubts can be removed only by a rigid comparison
of the skeletons of the different kinds, combined with careful observation
of the habits of the animals in their native retreats, and a more attentive consideration
of their geographical distribution than has hitherto been given. Buffon,
classing the American and European Bears together, distinguishes two species of
land Bear differing from each in colour and manners*. Naturalists of the present
day are generally of opinion that there are two or more species of Bear in the
northern parts of the New World, differing specifically from those of the old
continent. The Polar Bear is perhaps the only species which is common to both
continents, but it may with justice be considered as a sea animal, inhabiting the
ice floating between them.
The Black Bear of America was first described as a distinct species by Pallas,
and with reason, although some late writers continue to confound it with the
Black Bear of Europe f . It has a milder disposition, and live? more on vegetable
» H faut distinguer," dit-il, “ deux espèces dans les ours terrestres, -les trurn et les nows', lesquels n’avant pas les
mêmes appetite naturels, ne peuvent pas être considérés comme deux espèce, distinctes et séparai Oe plu i w !
llano terrestre n’est qu'une variété de l'une ou de l'autre de ces espèces. Nous comprenons id sous la délmination
d'oms bruns ceux qui sont bruns, fauve,, roux, rougetees, e, par celle d'ours noir, ceux qui sontTorâ“4 Z T b m
que tout à fait noirs.”—B u r j-O N , Hist. Hat., voL viii. p 248. H noirâtres aussi Dien
7 * f ' 0stemen* dis‘“ SnM“» « n u s n ig e r E u r o p e . from tbe
e sû e d X C T ? ’ a ° f aU tW T ie urma has ü I B P bone of it, cranium flattened,
a™« ly’ T * 7 I* & ‘“ ipotnl depressions -by well marked ridges, wlich unite behind at an
acute angle to form an elevated sagittal crest. It, fur i , blackish, rough, and more or less woolly. The well marked
Ï a T p 0113 origta to the strong mu,des of the lower jaw, shew that
the Black Bear of Europe is more decidedly a beast of prey than the Brown one, in which respect they differ from the
bears of corresponding colours which inhabit the New World.. . i me, umer irom the
substances than the latter, and there are corresponding differences in the form of
its cranium, which is shorter, with less convex zygomatic arches, and consequently a
smaller space for lodging the crotaphite muscle. Its forehead is not flat like that of
the Black Bear of Europe, but arched, although not so much so as the forehead of
the Brown Bear. Its temporal ridges, however, are well marked, and unite to form
a sagittal crest. Its nose is continued nearly on the same line with the forehead,
and is rather arched, which produces the most striking peculiarity in the physiognomy
of this species. Its ears are high, oval, rounded at the tips, and far apart.
The palms and soles of the feet are short in comparison with those of the Brown
Bear. The fur on the body is long, straight, shining and black, and the maesial
line of the nose is also black or very deep brown, but there is a large pale
yellowish-brown patch on each side of the muzzle. The naked extremity of the
nose is a little oblique, not being so directly truncated as that of the Brown Bear.
The hair of the feet projects beyond the claws, which are black.
The Cinnamon Bear of the Fur Traders is considered by the Indians to be an
accidental variety of this species, and they are borne out in this opinion by the
quality of the fur, which is equally fine with that of the Black Bear. The Yellow
Bear of Carolina is also referred by Cuvier to this species, as is likewise the Ours
Gulaire of M. Geoffroy, which has a white throat. The white markings on the
throat of the animal, mentioned by the latter author, are perhaps analogous to
the white collar which many of the European Brown Bears exhibit when young.
Captain Cartwright remarks that the cubs of the Black Bear, on the Labrador
coast, are often marked with white rings round the neck*, and Pennant notices
the same thing of the bears of Hudson’s Bay.
The Black Bear is smaller than the other American bears which we have to
describe, the total length of an adult seldom exceeding five feet. Its favourite
food appears to be berries of various kinds, but when these are not to be procured,
it preys upon roots, insects, fish, eggs, and such birds or quadrupeds as it
can surprise. It does not eat animal food from choice; for when it has abundance
of its favourite vegetable diet, it will pass the carcase of a deer without touching it.
It is rather a timid animal, and will seldom face a man unless it is wounded, or has
its retreat cut off, or is urged by affection to defend its young. In such cases
its strength renders it a dangerous assailant. I have known the female confront
her enemy boldly until she had seen her cubs attain the upper branches of a tree,
when she made off, evidently considering them to be in safety, but in fact leaving
* Cartwright’s Journal of a Residence in Labrador.