Page:Babyhood of Wild Beasts.djvu/95

 CHAPTER VII

ON'T you think it's a wonderful fact that our great shaggy-coated Bears are born almost as hairless and naked as a new-born human infant? And this great, hulking beast weighs at birth about three-quarters of a pound!

Here are the dimensions of a baby Russian brown Bear taken when he was two days old: Length, head and body, 9¾ inches; tail, ½ inch; height, 5 inches; hind foot, 1⅛ inches by ⅞ of an inch; weight, 15 ounces. (Hornaday.)

This cub was born January 17th, which is about the time baby Bears are generally born.

There are two cubs in each litter.

At an early age a soft, downy covering appears which in due time develops into a massive shaggy coat. A new-born Bear looks like a little pink-skinned pig. 75