. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. NATURAL HlfiTORT. its kin, lias the curious habit of hihernat'uKj. During the summer, when food is abundant, it lays in a very large stock of provisions, thereby ))ecoming immensely fat. This operation being satisfiictorily performed by the beginning of winter, the Bear, finding that his foraging opei-ations become more and more arduous, seeks out a resting-place, such as a hollow tree or a cavern, or if these are not to be had, makes a sort of rude hut or nest for himself of branches and moss, and then goes into winter quarters, and calml
. Cassell's natural history. Animals; Animal behavior. NATURAL HlfiTORT. its kin, lias the curious habit of hihernat'uKj. During the summer, when food is abundant, it lays in a very large stock of provisions, thereby ))ecoming immensely fat. This operation being satisfiictorily performed by the beginning of winter, the Bear, finding that his foraging opei-ations become more and more arduous, seeks out a resting-place, such as a hollow tree or a cavern, or if these are not to be had, makes a sort of rude hut or nest for himself of branches and moss, and then goes into winter quarters, and calmly settles down for a post-prandial slumber, which lasts until spring. He then emerges from his hiding-place, very thin and weak—altogether a mere ghost of his former .self—and immediately sets about repaii-ing his losses by as many hearty meals as he can possibly cram into the time at his disposal, or as the means at his command will allow. The Bear feeds chiefly on roots, berries, and other vegetables; it has also a fondness for Ants, and a perfect passion for honey, in the capture of which he is often severely stung about the nose—almost. COMMON liROWX HEAU. his only vulnerable part—by the infuriated inhabitants of the comb. Ho also preys upon small quadrupeds, and sometimes—especially when fully adult—on larger ones. He is occasionally bold enough to attack the Bull, but is, as often as not, woi-sted in the encounter. He rarely attacks man, unless provoked, and then, when his blood is up, is a most dangerous antagonist. His mode of attack is (leculiarly his own. He does not fell his victim with a blow of his paw like one of the larger Cats, or -seize it at once with his teeth like a Dog, but " gives it the hug"—embraces it tightly, and with a gi-eat show of affection, with its powerful fore limbs, and continues the squeeze until the wretched animal is .suffocated. The female Bear, especially when her family is about, is a jiarticularly ferocious creat
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