238 The Grizzly Bear 



grizzly approached or followed a man, that he did so 

 with sinister purpose, and they "dared not send one 

 man alone to any distance, particularly if he had to pass 

 through brushwood." But we know now that the grizzly 

 is chock-full of curiosity, and that one of his habits is to 

 follow up any trail that puzzles or interests him, be it of 

 man or beast. This trait has been noted and miscon- 

 strued by many of the early commentators, and even 

 Adams, in speaking of the Rocky Mountain grizzly, says: 

 "He is more disposed to attack man than the same species 

 in other regions, and has often been known to follow on 

 the human track for several hours." 



So often have I seen this curiosity and proved it to be 

 innocent, that I have no fear whatever of these animals 

 when indulging this weakness of theirs. Time and again 

 I have allowed one to approach within a few yards of me, 

 and no calm observer who had watched a bear defying 

 his own caution to satisfy his own inquisitiveness, could 

 mistake the nature of his approach. But a man, filled 

 with a belief in the grizzly as a ravening and savage 

 monster, could, on the other hand, hardly fail to mistake 

 his intentions. The accompanying photograph shows a 

 young bear that had got scent of my camera, and had 

 turned out of his way to see what the scent might mean. 

 One can see his companion in the background following 

 the trail. That he looks savage I think you will agree. 

 In short, you would "hate to meet that on a dark night." 

 And yet, as a matter of fact, half scared and wholly curi- 

 ous, he was ready to bolt at a moment's notice, and did 

 bolt the moment the flash terminated his stalk. 



Under such circumstances as these my own rule of 



