106 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 10 



In the vicinity of the Golden Eagle Basin, during the three 

 weeks spent at this point, we saw between us probably eleven or 

 twelve bears. They were met with at all times of the day, several 

 being encountered about noon, when the sun was beating down 

 with intense heat. July 14 to 17 we spent on Douglas Mountain, 

 ;iinl several were seen each day. On the 14th, while crossing King 

 Solomon's Basin, about nine in the morning, a bear was seen 

 leisurely picking his way up a rocky gulch across the cailon, but 

 it was too far to risk a shot and he disappeared in the brush 

 without becoming aware of our presence. Later in the day, on 

 the summit, a bear swam across a corner of the little lake by 

 which we were encamped, and waded out on the mossy bank, 

 where he stood not more than twenty-five yards distant. It made 

 a beautiful picture, the black animal, with the drops of water 

 sparkling in the sunshine on his shaggy coat, standing on the 

 green moss, partly out of the water, with a background of snow 

 banks on the farther margin of the lake. He quite evidently 

 had not scented us at all, though we had a fire burning, but 

 almost at once he caught sight of our black dog who sat quietly 

 regarding him with placid curiosity. The two stared at each 

 other, while we sat unseen in the shadow of the trees, but Despard 

 reached for his rifle and fired without without awaiting any 

 further developments. The bear disappeared in the brush with 

 a crash, but w-ent only a few yards before it dropped dead. The 

 same evening another was seen from the ridge leading up to 

 Mount Douglas, feeding in the bottom of the canon far below.. 



On July 17, on our return trip, one was secured in King 

 Solomon's Basin. "We were picking our way, heavily laden, along 

 the edge of a snow slide, when the tall grass on the side was 

 violently agitated by some animal coming toward us, only about 

 thirty yards distant, but entirely hidden by the vegetation. We 

 stood still and waited, and almost at once a black head was poked 

 up, sniffing suspiciously in all directions. Despard fired and the 

 head disappeared, but although everything was quiet, it was some 

 time before we ventured into the grass to investigate. Then we 

 sent the dog on ahead to reconnoiter, and as nothing happened to 

 him, followed, with caution. However, the bear was quite dead, 

 with a broken neck, and had not moved out of his tracks. This 



