THE STORY OF THE BEAR. 



37 



from the leeward to within a very short distance. Care should, however, 

 always be taken to approach a l^ear from above, as a wounded one rolling 

 down hill on to the hunter is a very dangerous object. 



If two bears are feeding together and one is hit by a bullet, it will not 

 unfrequently turn fiercely on its companion, apparently under the impres- 

 sion that the latter was its aggressor. In the Himalaya, at least, the brown 



POLAR BEAR AND CUB CATCHING FISH. 



bear never voluntarily attacks human beings if unmolested, and it rarely 

 turns on them when wounded, unless brought to close quarters. There is 

 but little doubt that the current stories of the fierceness of the European bear 

 are exaggerated. In regard to the proverbial "hug," the story is apparently 

 devoid of foundation. A bear, from its anatomical structure, strikes round 

 with its paws, as if grasping, and the blow of its powerful arm drives its 



