VARIOUS FEEDING GROUNDS. i:n 



have a broad cii'cle of white round the neck, 

 which becomes smaller as they increase in 

 size, and in very old animals is quite 

 obliterated. 



In winter they keep concealed in caves, 

 and make their first appearance for the year 

 when the snow begins to melt m March or 

 April. In spring and summer they frequent 

 the borders of the forest on green spots 

 where fresh grass has sprung up, and about 

 places where flocks of sheep have been kept 

 when on the summer pasture grounds. At 

 this time their food consists chiefly of grass 

 and roots, but scorpions and other insects 

 form a portion, and in search of which they 

 turn over stones of an immense size. In 

 autumn they keep more in the forest, feeding 

 on various fruits, seeds, and berries, of which 

 the hips of the common wild rose form a 

 considerable share ; as these begin to get 

 scarce they return to roots and insects. 



Like its near relative, the black bear, it 

 often visits the villages in summer for 

 apricots, and in autumn for the buckwheat 



K 2 



