What, too, are his feelings over the increased friendly interest in his species all over the nation? How excitedly must he catch the echoes of discussions which are telling that he has been misunderstood, that he is not a bad fellow! And surely, if writing, he will pause abruptly when he hears that the public, and even the hunter, is making efforts to have the hunt for him checked--learns that there may early be a close season on the grizzly bear.
During the past thirty years I have had numerous experiences with the grizzly bear in various sections of his territory. In it I have camped alone and unarmed. I have trailed the grizzly without a gun. I have repeatedly been outwitted by him, but never has he attacked me. I have not found him ferocious, and I consider him in most respects the greatest animal on the North American continent, if not in the world. He excels in mental development and physical prowess, and he possesses the rare quality of loyalty. He is full of curiosity and is a born adventurer. The species impresses one with its superiority, and the individuality of each grizzly ever stands out.
The material in this book is drawn chiefly from my own experiences with grizzly bears in the wilderness. Ten of the chapters have not before appeared in print. The author acknowledges with thanks the courtesy of the editors of the _Saturday Evening Post_ in granting permission to reprint from that magazine parts of three chapters contained in this book; and to the editors of _The American Boy_ for two chapters reprinted herein. Dr. C. Hart Merriam has kindly consented to the reproduction of a part of his comment on the grizzly and big brown bears, together with his up-to-date classification of them. This valuable material represents the work of years.
Grizzly Sagacity 1 Cubs and Mother 21 His Exclusive Territory 41 Making a Bear Living 61 The Long Winter Sleep 79 Being Good to Bears 99 Trailing without a Gun 117 When the Grizzly Plays 137 Matching Wits with the Grizzly 153 Where Curiosity Wins 173 On the Defensive 189 Man's Loyal Companion 209 New Environments 227 Description, History, and Classification 245 Will the Grizzly be Exterminated? 271 Index 285
A Wild Grizzly _Frontispiece_ _From a Flashlight Photograph by F. C. Wolcott_