Food and Feeding loi 



his catch for future use. But the Black Bears only 

 fish on their own account occasionally and in very 

 shallow water. They will wander along the trails on 

 the banks of the small streams, and if salmon are strug- 

 gling over the riffles, will jump in and catch one or two. 

 But they are too much lacking in patience to wait for 

 the fish as the grizzly does, and too improvident to do 

 more than supply the need of the moment when the 

 opportunity comes unwaited for. And they are quite 

 satisfied, for the most part, to take the leavings of 

 others or to feed on stranded or dead fish. They often 

 get crumbs from the table of the golden eagle, the bald 

 eagle, and the osprey; and sometimes, when one of 

 these birds catches a fish too heavy to fly away with, 

 a Black Bear will drive the fisherman away and eat 

 his catch for him. 



But we began by saying that the Black Bear was in 

 part carnivorous, and so far, we have not justified the 

 claim by anjrthing more fleshy than a field-mouse. 

 The truth is that the Black Bear much prefers to have 

 his meat ^^well hung," as some sportsmen express it. 

 That is to say, he really prefers carrion. Any kind of 

 a carcass makes a strong appeal to him, and I do not 

 believe that meat can be too putrid to suit his taste. 

 Ben, when he was out walking with me during the 

 time we lived in Missoula, would turn aside to sniff 

 over any dead cat or hen that he came across — even 

 if nothing remained of it but dried skin and bones. 



