78 STORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



loon. Having a very sweet tooth, it is also attached to 

 sugar, and I have seen two of them fight in the most vi- 

 cious manner for a lump so small that an ant would almost 

 scorn to notice it. I used, at one time, to enjoy keenly 

 sending a brace of cubs racing up a tree for a piece of 

 sugar or honey ; and when they reached the spot in which 

 it was concealed, they would commence growling, moan- 

 ing, and quarrelling if they did not secure it at once. 

 Whichever got it first ran away with it; but the other re- 

 sented such selfishness, and attacked its companion ener- 

 getically for displaying such a low trait. If they were not 

 fighting about sugar, they were sure to be about something 

 else, especially if it was anything edible. To give one 

 food and overlook the other would cause the neglected one 

 to indulge in moaning growls of rage and envy. The op- 

 posite sexes quarrel as readily as the males during feeding- 

 time, for gallantry seems to be an attribute foreign to a 

 bear's nature. Whatever affection the animal may possess 

 belongs entirely to the female, for she is kind to her young, 

 and will sometimes fight bravely in their defence, or sin- 

 cerely mourn their loss should the hunter kill them. The 

 only time when she is really dangerous is when she is ac- 

 companied by her cubs; for she will then fight if sur- 

 prised suddenly, cornered, or wounded, or if she thinks any 

 harm is intended toward them. 



The female brings forth her young late in December 

 or early in January, the period of gestation commencing 

 in October, and lasting generally about one hundred and 

 twelve days. When in this condition she retires to a tree- 

 top or a cavern, and there remains until the cubs are able 

 to move about briskly enough to flee to her if attacked by 

 wolves or other foes. So carefully do the mothers secrete 

 themselves at a certain season that I never heard of a preg- 

 nant one being killed, nor did I ever see one, to the best 

 of my knowledge. During unusually cold seasons in the 

 north the bears migrate to the south, where food and 

 warmth may be procured ; but in these migrations even, 

 when many are shot, no person could say that a gravid 



