BEARS & WATER-HOLE SHOOTING 



are knee-jointed, so that a bear can put itself in almost any 

 position possible, or impossible, to a human being. 



The body is plump and podgy, but the fur makes it 

 look much larger than it really is. 



The males have a peculiar bone in the generative organ, 

 which is highly prized by natives, especially the Tamils, as 

 a charm against barrenness. 



The females are somewhat smaller than the males, but 

 have usually much thicker fur, especially between the 

 shoulders, where it thickens into a dense tuft. 



These bears are found over the greater portion of the 

 Ceylon low country, and are especially common in the 

 wilder portions of the North, North Central, East, and 

 Southern Provinces. 



They have no regular place of abode in the dry season, 

 as they then have to wander far and wide in search of food, 

 though they must remain within reach of water, as they 

 drink daily. In the wet season, however, they take refuge 

 under hollow trees, overhanging rocks, and in caves or 

 ancient ruins, as they like shelter at that time. 



In the wet season, therefore, they very much frequent 

 the ridges of piled-up rocks, to be met with in the forest, 

 known as hinna, and I have often seen bears whose long fur 

 of the neck and shoulders has been worn down very short 

 through having a lair under very low rocks or in a hollow 

 tree with a very low entrance necessitating a squeeze to get in. 



In the wet season their favourite food is the larvae of 

 white ants, which they can then dig out, the rain having 

 somewhat softened the earth, grubs and beetles of all sorts, 

 and tree honey, in the finding of which their scenting 

 power is marvellous, whilst their powers of suction for ex- 

 tracting their grub or larvae food in fact all food is a 

 thing wonderful to hear and behold. 



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