CURIOUS BEHAVIOUR OF GRIZZLY 97

certain or even hopeful. There was not a vestige of
cover anywhere, not even enough to hide a rabbit, let
alone two human beings; and to make a stalk seemed
an impossibility. It is true our quarry was coming in
our direction, but that he would continue coming until
he got within range was more than doubtful. If it had
been a ram we would just have waited until he got into
a more favourable position, but you cannot do that with
a bear, as he is liable to travel miles and never give you
the chance you want. In doubt as to our best course, we
just sat there and awaited developments.

For a short distance after she first came into view (it
turned out to be a female) she just sauntered leisurely
along, but suddenly started to canter. Then, after
covering about a hundred yards, she stopped and pro-
ceeded to nose about a bit, but soon began to work back
the way she had come.

‘“ What on earth is that bear doing?” asked the
Major. ‘‘ Look at her; she is quartering her ground like a
setter.”

‘“She is having a deuce of a time all by herself,’ I
answered ; ‘‘ it looks as if she had dropped something and
was trying to find it.’’

In a few minutes the bear stopped and began to dig.
The problem was solved. She had been chasing a ground
squirrel, had overrun it when it dodged into its hole,
and then systematically cast back until she had found
where it had gone to ground.

Now when a grizzly starts to dig out a ground squirrel
it spends a lot of time and wastes a vast amount of energy
on what is often a fruitless quest, and even if success
rewards its efforts, a single mouthful is the sole reward.
Time after time they will dig a huge hole in the ground,
piling up masses of earth and rocks, only to find that their
victim has made his escape. But there are times when
it is Bruin’s lucky day and he finds his prey in a half-
finished hole. Then it is only a matter of a few minutes
before the delicate morsel is swallowed and the hunt for
more commenced. Our hopes were based on its being a