196 FOREST LIFE LN ACADIE. 



f" have only noticed traclcB of bears on the snow in winter, 



when a sudden and violent rainstorm, or a prolonged 



f^f* thaw has flooded their den, and sent them forth to look 



for fresh shelter, as they cannot endure a wet bed during 

 hybernation. 



The bear is very particular in choosing a comfortable 

 dormitory for his long winter s nap. In walking through 

 the woods, you will find plenty of caves— likely looking 

 places for a bear's den — but " Bruin," or rather " Mooin," 

 as the Indians call him (a name singularly like his Euro- 

 pean sobriquet in sound) would not condescend to use 

 one in a hundred, perhaps. He must have a nice dry 

 place, so arranged that the snow will not drift in on his 

 back, or water trickle through ; for he grumbles terribly, 

 when aroused from his lair in mid-winter, either by the 

 hunter's summons or unseasonable weather. And then 

 he is so cautious — the Indians say " he think all the same 

 as a man " — that he will not go into it if there are any 

 sticks cut in the vicinity by the hands of man, or 

 any recent axe-blazings on the neighbouring trees. 

 Another thing he cannot endure, is the presence of the 

 porcupine. The porcupine (Erethizon dorsatus) lives in 

 rocky places, full of caves, and often takes possession of 

 large roomy dens, which poor Mooin, coming up rather 

 in a hurry, having stopped out blueberry picking rather 

 later than usual, and till all was blue, might envy, but 

 would not share on any account. The porcupine is not 

 over-cleanly in his habits, besides not being a very 

 pleasant bedfellow cq^rojws of his quills; but to which 

 of these traits the bear takes objection I cannot say — 

 perhaps both. The quills are very disagreeable weapons, 

 and armed with a little barbed head ; when they pierce 



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