46 Hunting the Grisly 



erate-sized stone he would turn over with a 

 single clap of his paw, and then plunge his 

 nose down into the hollow to gobble up the 

 small creatures beneath while still dazed by 

 the light. The big logs and rocks he would 

 tug and worry at with both paws ; once, over- 

 exerting his clumsy strength, he lost his grip 

 and rolled clean on his back. Under some of 

 the logs he evidently found mice and chip- 

 munks ; then, as soon as the log was overturned, 

 he would be seen jumping about with gro- 

 tesque agility, and making quick dabs here 

 and there, as the little scurrying rodent turned 

 and twisted, until at last he put his paw on it 

 and scooped it up into his mouth. Sometimes, 

 probably when he smelt the mice underneath, 

 he would cautiously turn the log over with one 

 paw, holding the other lifted and ready to 

 strike. Now and then he would halt and sniff 

 the air in every direction, and it was after one 

 of these halts that he suddenly shuffled off into 

 the woods. 



Black bear generally feed on berries, nuts, 

 insects, carrion, and the like; but at times 

 they take to killing very large animals. In 

 fact, they are curiously irregular in their food. 

 They will kill deer if they can get at them; 

 but generally the deer are too quick. Sheep 



