keep track of a bear during the four or five days 

 immediately preceding his retirement, he did not 

 eat a single thing. I have examined a number of 

 grizzlies that were killed while hibernating, and in 

 every instance the stomach and intestines were 

 empty. These facts lead me to conclude that bears 

 rest and fast for a few days before going perma- 

 nently to the winter den. 



The bear generally prepares his winter quarters 

 in advance of the time needed. He may occasion- 

 ally sleep in his den before taking possession of it 

 for the winter. But this is exceptional. In two cases 

 that I know of he lay outside the den, though near 

 it; and a number of other times he kept away from 

 the den until he entered it for the long sleep. After 

 the den is completely ready, the grizzly continues 

 his usual search for food. Generally this requires 

 long excursions and he may wander miles from the 

 den. 



In climbing along the bottom of a deep, narrow 

 ravine one November day, I saw on the slope above 

 me what appeared to be a carload or more of 

 freshly dumped earth. My first thought was that a 

 prospector was at work driving a tunnel ; but upon 

 examination it proved to be a recently finished but 

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