section of a spruce that had broken off when the 

 tree fell among bowlders and lay on the bank a few 

 feet from the water. The bear had come down 

 stream, and in passing ten or twelve feet from the 

 log had turned aside to it. He may have rolled it 

 over to see if there were insects beneath, but, ac- 

 cidentally or intentionally, he had rolled it into the 

 water. 



This play of a grizzly with an object is much less 

 common than their other play, such as coasting. 

 Several times I have seen grizzlies lying on their 

 stomachs sliding down a steep, smooth, grassy 

 slope, or trying to start themselves on a slope that 

 was not steep enough for coasting. A grizzly pauses 

 to play frequently. A mother and cubs often play 

 together in the water, with apparent enjoyment 

 for all. Many a beaver pond is a favorite swim- 

 ming-hole for the cubs and a wading-place for the 

 older bears. 



I watched an old grizzly romping in the mud of 

 a shallow pond. After rolling and wallowing about, 

 until his fur coat was covered with mud thick 

 enough to form a plaster cast, he grew energetic. 

 He ran for the shore with all speed, as though hun- 

 ters and dogs were upon him. Once out of the mud, 

 143 



