On Getting Acquainted 



fearsome things, which may properly alarm the 

 wood folk, but of pretty or harmless or attractive 

 things, such as the repeated flash of a looking- 

 glass or the rhythmic swing of a handkerchief or a 

 whistled tune, which commonly bring wild creat- 

 ures nearer with forward-set ears and eyes with 

 questions in them. In a word, so far as I have ob- 

 served birds and beasts, their first or natural atti- 

 tude toward every new object, unless it be raising 

 fearful smells or moving toward them with hostile 

 intent, is invariably one of curiosity rather than 

 of fear. 



One proof of this universal trait, to me, is that 

 when I approach wild animals carelessly they 

 often run away; but of the hundreds that have 

 approached me when I was quiet in the woods, 

 every one without exception showed plainly by 

 his action that he was keen to find out who or 

 what I might be. Young animals are more in- 

 quisitive than old, having everything to learn, 

 and they are easily attracted; but age cannot 

 stale the wonder of the world for them, and I 

 have never chanced to meet an old doe, no, nor a 

 tough old bull moose, that did not come near to 

 question me if the chance were given. Of the 

 larger wood folk Mooween the bear is perhaps the 

 least inquisitive; yet once an old bear came so 

 close to me, his eyes a question and his nose an 



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