view raw text
CURIOSITY OF THE GRIZZLY BEAR Grizzlies in regions just invaded by white men appear to have put in much time trying to make out what these strange creatures were about. What man is doing is ever of first importance to the long-lived grizzly. His interest in his surroundings appears to be greater than that of the average person. At any rate, the grizzly shows better knowledge of the habits of human beings than people have of the habits of bears. His is not the curiosity of the idle; the grizzly is not prying into the affairs of others for mere pastime, but is concerned only so far as these affairs may benefit pr harm him. His is the intelligent curiosity of a mind seeking facts. Most of the time he leads a solitary life; lie rarely exchanges ideas or information with other bears. Most animals live in pairs or flocks and, each gathering information for all, they divide sentinel duty; but single-handed the grizzly must get the news, must scout for himself. He is ever on the watch, does nothing . blindly, and he simply must understand. Any unusual occurrence arouses a grizzlys curiosity, and is to him "a word to the wise-" His .success lies in constant alertness. He might well be likened to a frontiersman; he has that painstaking vigilance, that untiring energy, which seeks, to 1 discover whether this, strange track, sound or displacement is the camouflage which conceals the enemy or if it be a clue which will lead to something of alvantage. lie at once endeavors to find 1 out all that may be learned about it. 1 ; . 1 i
