CURIOUS FACTS. 259

appear abnormally large, and his paws
seem enormous. When the berries are ripe
and there are fish in the streams, the prepa-
ration for winter begins, the fur is sleek
and greasy-looking again. Mr. Bear is fat
and contented and ready to go into his long
sleep.

When he awakes one of the first things
he does is to suck his feet. This is done be-
cause the skin is new and tender.

In the picture illustrating the fight be-
tween the bear and the boy upon the log,
the bear is shown as he appears during the
emaciated season, a caricature of himself
when well fed. The bear in captivity re-
ceives his food at regular intervals and in
large quantities, and he loses many of the
marked characteristics of the bear in his
wild or untamed state. There is just as
much difference between a society leader
and a man who lives close to nature.