VII. 

 CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE BEAR. 



With the different seasons the bear pre 

 sents a varied appearance. There are times 

 when you would scarce recognize the same 

 animal. In the autumn of the year the 

 bear takes on fat in preparation for hiber 

 nating. At this time the fur is glossy and 

 long, and in the grizzly almost a seal 

 brown. 



A curious phenomenon now takes place 

 in the animal's digestive organs, which 

 gives it the capability of remaining the en 

 tire winter in a state of lethargy, without 

 food and yet without losing condition. As 

 the stomach is no longer furnished with 

 food, it soon becomes quite empty, and, to 

 gether with the intestines, is contracted 

 into a very small space. No food can now 

 pass through the system, for an obstruc 

 tion, a mechanical one technically called 



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