In these places an animal may learn of the recent 

 visit of one of his species or of a dreaded enemy, 

 or may even find information as to the sex of 

 the visitors. They are thus akin to country cross- 

 roads where gossip is exchanged concerning human 

 affairs. 



A grizzly that I was trailing turned abruptly 

 aside to visit a news station of this kind. Plainly it 

 was a loafing or frequented spot for wild life ; from 

 the nature of the topography and from numerous 

 tracks seen during later visits I learned that it was 

 a stamping-ground and a trail-crossing. Foxes, 

 coyotes, skunks, rats, deer, and mountain sheep 

 had been visitors. The manner in which the bear 

 turned aside to visit the place suggested that he 

 had been there before ; but he may just have caught 

 interesting, newsy scent which attracted him there 

 for the first time. His actions were those of one who 

 is hunting for news. 



At night the bear may lie down in almost any 

 place, but during the daytime he selects one of the 

 safest places in his realm. If in the high mountains 

 this may be on a ridge above the timber-line, or on 

 a treeless hilltop from which he commands a wide 

 outlook, or in the end of a canon, or in a thicket. 



49 



