CURIOUS FACTS. 259 



appear abnormally large, and his paws 

 seem enormous. When the berries are ripe 

 and there are fish in the streams, the prepa 

 ration for winter begins, the fur is sleek 

 and greasy-looking again. Mr. Bear is fat 

 and contented and ready to go into his long 

 sleep. 



When he awakes one of the first things 

 he does is to suck his feet. This is done be 

 cause the skin is new and tender. 



In the picture illustrating the fight be 

 tween the bear and the boy upon the log, 

 the bear is shown as he appears during the 

 emaciated season, a caricature of himself 

 when well fed. The bear in captivity re 

 ceives his food at regular intervals and in 

 large quantities, and he loses many of the 

 marked characteristics of the bear in his 

 wild or untamed state. There is just as 

 much difference between a society leader 

 and a man who lives close to nature. 



