154 THE BLACK BEAK. 



till the ground is perfectly clean and smooth. It must be 

 deep enough to prevent the snow from drifting into it, and 

 free from any water trickling down from above. He objects 

 especially to a habitation which has been occupied by the 

 porcu})ine, that animal being far from cleanly in its habits. 

 Perhaps also he has an objection to the quills with which the 

 creature is fimiished, from their being likely to produce dis- 

 agi'eeable wounds. He forgets, perhaps, that the rubbish he 

 has scraped out will betray his abode to the hunter — which 

 it assuredly does. The Indian, on discovering this indubit- 

 able sign of Mooin's abode, takes steps to arouse him and 

 |)lant a bullet in his head, or to batter out his brains with his 

 axe. Mooin, however, in spite of his usual sagacity, ignorant 

 that his abode may be discovered, perhaps already overcome 

 with a strange desire to sleep, crawls in for his winter's 

 snooze. He is frequently accompanied by a partner, who will 

 add to his warmth and comfort. He there lies down with his 

 fore-paws curled round his head and nose, which he pokes 

 underneath his chest. Here he remains asleep till the warm 

 sun of March or April tempts him to crawl out in search ot 

 food to replenish his empty stomach and strengthen his weak- 

 ened frame. Madam Mooin is generally, at this time, em- 

 ployed in the pleasing office of increasing her family. Her 

 young cubs, when born, are curiously small, helpless little 

 beings, not larger than rats. Generally there are two of 

 them, and they are born about the middle of February. She 

 manages to nourish them without taking any food herself till 

 March or April, when she also, like her better half, sallies 

 forth in search of provender. The young creatures grow but 

 slowly, and do not attain their full size till they are about 

 four years old. Even when about a couple of months old, the 



