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. Habitu