4:8 THE STORY OF THE BEAR. 



sels hung on the palm trees for the sake of their juice, and is said frequently 

 to become very drunk in consequence. Sugar-cane is likewise a favorite 

 dainty of these bears, which frequently do a large amount of damage to such 

 crops. Although they generally subsist entirely on vegetable substances and 

 insects, they will occasionally eat flesh. 



Like most other members of the family, the sloth bear has the sense of 

 hearing but poorly developed, and its eyesight is also far from good; hence 

 it has a peculiarly comical way of peering about when it suspects intruders, 

 as though it were short-sighted. It can be approached very closely from the 

 leeward side. Its sense of smell is wonderfully acute, and it can detect con- 

 cealed supplies of honey, and also scent out ants' nests when situated far 

 below the ground. 



The number of cubs produced at a birth is, as in most bears, usually two, 

 but there may sometimes be three. The young cubs are carried on the back 

 of the female when the animals are on the move; and it is an amusing sight to 

 watch the cubs dismount at the feeding grounds, and scramble back to their 

 seat at the first alarm. The cubs are carried about in this manner till they 

 are several months old and have attained the dimensions of a sheep-dog, 

 and when there is room for only one cub on the mother's back the other 

 has to walk by her side. 



Either wild or tame they are very amusing. Though hard to kill, they 

 are very soft as to their feelings, and make the most hideous outcries when 

 shot at — not only the wounded animal, but also its companions. 



Although generally timid in their nature, sloth bears will on rare occa- 

 sions attack human beings without provocation, and when they do so they 

 fight both with teeth and talons, and inflict terrible wounds, more especially 

 on the head and face. These attacks generally occur when a bear is acci- 

 dentally stumbled upon by a native wandering in the jungle, and are then 

 due more to timidity than to ferocity. 



Sloth bears are usually hunted in India either by driving them from cover 

 with a line of beaters, or. by the sportsman going to their caves or lairs 

 among the rocks at daybreak, and shooting them as they return home from 

 their nightly wanderings. 



THE PARTI-COLORED BEAR. 



The strangest animal of all the family of bears is found in that practically 

 unknown country of Thibet. It was first discovered in 1869. 



The general color is white, but the eyes are surrounded by black rings, 



