HUNTING THE BEAR 255 



at the edge of the cliff, about five hundred yards above 

 me, and began to dig out a ground squirrel. 



Ground squirrels (Citellus plesius) were everywhere. 

 All the pastures and mountain slopes were filled with 

 their holes, and one was continually in sight of them!, 

 sitting straight up on their hind legs or running for 

 their burrows. The most characteristic sound of the 

 higher parts of the northern wilderness is their shrill 

 chatter when they see a supposed enemy approaching 

 or when they disappear in their holes. 



Through the glasses the bear could be seen digging, 

 making the earth fly in all directions. At times she 

 would sit and dig, again ,rise and strike the ground 

 in apparent anger, twist around, watch for a moment, 

 and then begin digging again. The squirrels always 

 have several holes, connected by underground channels, 

 and the bear kept digging out one after another, now 

 and then making a jump to the next, evidently know- 

 ing that the squirrel was about to run out. Then she 

 would again dig, until finally the squirrel was pocketed, 

 and the bear made a great pounce and grabbed it with 

 both forepaws. As her back was turned, the opera- 

 tion of devouring her prey could not be seen. While 

 the bear was digging for the squirrel the cub raced 

 about, now sitting still a moment, then jumping up 

 and running off playing, quite indifferent to the mother's 

 task. 



After spending twenty minutes digging and tearing 

 out the hard earth until she caught the squirrel, the bear 

 stepped to the edg;e of the cliff, took a long look below, 

 started quartering down the slope, and disappeared. 

 The wind was in my favour, so, after waiting five 

 minutes, I started. The way was very steep, and 



