On the barren mountain-side beyond the heat was oppressive.

It was small wonder that Bruin should have sought the spot to cool his gross carcass in the fresh spring water.
The bear is a solitary beast, and although many may assemble together, in what looks like a drove, on some favorite feeding-ground--usually where the berries are thick, or by the banks of a salmon-thronged river--the association is never more than momentary, each going its own way as soon as its hunger is satisfied.

The males always live alone by choice, save in the rutting season, when they seek the females.

Then two or three may come together in the course of their pursuit and rough courtship of the female; and if the rivals are well matched, savage battles follow, so that many of the old males have their heads seamed with scars made by their fellows' teeth.

At such times they are evil tempered and prone to attack man or beast on slight provocation.
The she brings forth her cubs, one, two, or three in number, in her winter den.