1064 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



bear-tree to get the latest news — there to learn what Bear has 

 gone by, whether fighting males or unmated females — add 

 their own record, then hurry along the most promising line, to 

 meet, perhaps, a dozen other Bears assembled in some well- 

 known, quiet haunt, where, with much threatening and occa- 

 sional combat, the sexes are paired — one male to one female. 

 The 'happy couple' set off alone on the 'honeymoon' of a 

 week or more, the female leading the way, the male following, 

 but pausing at times to glance back and hurl, if need be, a 

 rumbling defiance to any other of his sex that seems disposed 

 to follow or dispute his claims. 



But the love-bond weakens with the love-moon's waning. 

 So far as known, they part in July, to go their separate ways, 

 and if by chance they meet again that year, it is as strangers or 

 possible enemies. 



BEAR Throughout the rest of the summer and autumn their 



AGE energies are devoted to getting fat. The Woodmouse and the 

 Squirrel store up hordes of choicest food in holes and caves, 

 the Bear and the Woodchuck store it up in their own skins. 

 Autumn with its plentiful nuts, in addition to many other foods, 

 affords the opportunity — and the Bears lose not a minute. 

 Night and day they work, their stomachs are distended to the 

 full, but amazingly good digestion waits on boundless, unbridled 

 appetite, and the Bear grows daily rounder. 



Fur is a wonderful protection from the cold, fat is as good. 

 The Bear has four inches of each when winter comes; little it 

 heeds the storm. And yet this, of all the big forest beasts, the 

 best protected, is the only one to shun the battle with winter 

 and seek a safe and sheltered den, there to sink into the sleep 

 that lasts till spring. 

 WINTER- The winter-denning of the Adirondack Bears was studied 



DENNING 1 PA /^ T I l\ /r • i 



by Ur. L. Mart IVlerriam, who says: 



"The exact period when the event takes place is deter- 

 mined by the food-supply and the severity of the season. If 

 the beechnut crop has been a failure and deep snows come 



" Mam. .\dir., 1884, p. 97. 



