Characteristics and Habits 77 



Soon after I got settled I noticed two Black Bears in 

 a little clearing to my left and, for something to do, 

 I set to watching them. For some time they fed quietly 

 here and there and then they took to playing. One of 

 them was quite a bit larger than the other, but the 

 smaller one was game and though he got considerably 

 the worst of the rough sport they kept the play up 

 for quite a while. Suddenly, however, in the very 

 midst of an excited wrestling match, the little fellow 

 drew away, stood up on his hind legs and listened for 

 a moment, and then went up a convenient tree, his 

 companion following his example and taking refuge in 

 another one. I was much interested over this turn 

 of affairs and kept a close watch to see what was going 

 to happen next. But, after quite a little wait, the 

 bears seemed to make up their minds that it had been 

 a false alarm and, coming down from their respective 

 trees, they resumed their rough and tumble fun. Not 

 for long, however. It was only a minute or two before 

 they repeated their former maneuvres, and this time 

 they appeared to have no doubt as to the imminence 

 of danger. They had worked their way over to my 

 side of the clearing, and when they broke for shelter the 

 little bear took refuge in the small pine tree under 

 which my flash-pan stood, his companion selecting a 

 larger tree a little further away. And sure enough, 

 almost as soon as they were well off the ground an old 

 grizzly came stalking dignifiedly out of the woods and 



