File:Wild beasts and their ways - reminiscences of Europe, Asia, Africa and America (1890) (14780775495).jpg

Identifier: wildbeaststheirw00bake (find matches)
Title: Wild beasts and their ways : reminiscences of Europe, Asia, Africa and America
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Baker, Samuel White, Sir, 1821-1893
Subjects: Baker, Samuel White, Sir, 1821-1893 Animal behavior Hunting
Publisher: London New York : Macmillan
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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als and fish, differs fromall others; the grizzly bear (Ursus ferox) of Western America,which will eat flesh when it can obtain it, but is a feeder uponroots and berries. Nearly all bears are inclined to vegetable foodand insects, accepting flesh when they find the freshly killed bodyof an animal, but not seeking live creatures to kill and eat. Thesloth bear of India is an exception to this rule, as it refuses flesh,and lives simply upon fruits, berries, leaves of certain trees, roots,and insects of all kinds, the favourite bonne bouche being the nestof white ants (Termites), for which it will dig a large hole in thehardest soil to a depth of 2 or 3 feet. The molars of bears havea close resemblance to those of a human being, exhibiting a grind-ing surface for the mastication of all manner of substances. Thenose is used as a snout, for turning over stones which lie upon thesurface, in search of insects, slugs, worms, and other creatures, asnothing comes amiss to the appetite of a bear.
Text Appearing After Image:
OS r—I chap, x THE BEAR 197 The claws of the fore paws are three or four inches in length,and are useful implements for digging. It is astonishing to seethe result upon soil that would require a pick-axe to excavate ahole. Upon the hard sides of such pits as those made in searchof white ants, the claw-marks are deeply imprinted, showing thelabour that has been expended for a most trifling prize, as thenest when found would only yield a few mouthfuls. I have neverappreciated the name of sloth bear given to Ursus labiatus, asit is a creature that works hard for its food throughout the year,and being an inhabitant of the tropics, it never hybernates. Thisspecies is very active, and although it refuses flesh, it is one of themost mischievous of its kind, as it will frequently attack manwithout the slightest reason, but from sheer pugnacity. A full-grown male weighs from 280 to 300 lbs. The skin is exceedinglythick and heavy. The hair is long and coarse, with a bunch uponits back of at l

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