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found in the heights the year round. He may, 

 both in winter and summer, make excursions 

 into the lowlands, but during snowy times he 

 clings to the heights. Here he usually finds a 

 tableland or a ridge that has been freed of snow 

 by the winds. In these snow-free places he can 

 feed and loiter and sometimes look down on 

 unfortunate snow-bound deer and elk. 



The bunching habit of big game during pe- 

 riods of extreme cold or deep snow probably con- 

 fers many benefits. It discourages the attacks 

 of carnivorous enemies, and usually renders 

 such attacks ineffective. Crowding also gives 

 the greatest warmth with the least burning of 

 fat fuel. The conservation of energy by storm- 

 bound animals is of the utmost importance. Cold 

 and snow make complicated endurance tests; 

 the animals must with such handicaps with- 

 stand enemies and sometimes live for days with 

 but little or nothing to eat. 



Big game, on occasions, suffer bitterly through 

 a combination of misfortunes. Something may 

 prevent a herd reaching its best shelter, and it 

 must then endure the storm in poor quarters; 



267 



