THE BLACK BEAR OF MUSKOKA 105 



modes of attack. Sometimes they rush in and 

 bite ; and again they strike with their fore-paws. 

 Personally, I think it depends greatly upon 

 where they are wounded, and the nature of the 

 country. 



A keen sportsman and naturalist has graphic- 

 ally described the habits of this animal. 



" Once I spent half an hour lying at the edge 

 of a wood and looking at a black bear some three 

 hundred yards off across an open glade. It was 

 in a good stalking country, but the wind was un- 

 favourable and I waited for it to shift waited too 

 long, as it proved, for something frightened the 

 beast and he made off before I could get a shot at 

 him. When I first saw him he was shuffling along 

 and rooting in the ground, so that he looked like 

 a great pig. Then he began to turn over the 

 stones and logs to hunt for insects, small reptiles, 

 and the like. A moderate-sized stone he would 

 turn over with a single clap of his paw, and then 

 plunge his nose down into the hollow to gobble 

 up the small creatures beneath, while still dazed 

 by the light. The big logs and rocks he would 

 try and worry at with both paws ; once, over- 

 exerting his clumsy strength, he lost his grip and 

 rolled clean on his back. Under some of the 



