t^i: (Btijjfg 



In the edge of the tall grass he found a bumblebee's 

 nest. This he ate in its entirety. Apparently two or 

 three of the bees escaped, to judge from the bear's 

 rapid defense of his nose. Occasionally, as he 

 walked about, he ate a huge mouthful of grass, 

 taking three or four bites at a time. 



Neither of these bears paid the slightest atten- 

 tion to the other. Though each must have known, 

 from both scent and sight, that the other was near, 

 they very successfully appeared to be oblivious of 

 the fact. A beaver pond is often a neutral feeding 

 and swimming place. 



"As hungry as a bear" is an expression of variable 

 meaning. About one third of the year a bear has an 

 omnivorous appetite; for another four months he 

 lives on short rations; and during the remainder of 

 the year he goes on a food strike and hibernates. 



A bear spends most of his waking hours making 

 a living. He has simply a devastating appetite, and 

 as his taste runs to small stuff and dainties, he is 

 kept on the move. 



If he denned high up the mountain-side his sur- 

 roundings are likely to be mostly snow-covered 

 when he comes forth in the spring. Under such 

 conditions he travels miles down the mountains to 



64 



