IN A WILD ANIMAL REPUBLIC 245 



carcasses strewn about than the cats could possibly 

 devour. 



BEARS ARE THE SCAVENGERS OF THE PARK, 



as hogs formerly were in our cities. A peculiarity 

 of the grizzlies is the marked manner in which 

 they avoid their black cousins, preferring to eat 

 what the black bears leave rather than to associate 

 with them. 



A few years ago, before the hotel at the upper 

 geyser basin was burned, the guests of that hostelry 

 were sitting around the big open fire, telling bear 

 stories, when in walked 



A LARGE GLOSSY BLACK BEAR. 



Conversation died, and the guests sat silent and 

 motionless as the petrified trees at Yancey's, until 

 the bear, bored by such dull company, strolled leis- 

 urely to the front door, looked out at the bubbling 

 geysers, then quietly took its departure. At Norris 

 I found the soldiers alternately swearing because 

 bears had looted their tobacco and scattered it over 

 the ground, and laughing at "Larry the lunchstand 

 man." This talkative and genial Irishman thought 

 he could protect his meat house from the bruin by 

 erecting scarecrows at the four corners of the 

 house, but when night came on the bears pulled the 

 stuffed men to pieces. 



