FAUNA. 237 



then proceed with greater caution, and when they con- 

 sider that the bear is not very far off they leave the 

 track and make a circle, returning to their starting place. 

 Should they, when making this ring, again cross the 

 track of the animal, they know that he has gone beyond 

 the space they are enclosing, and therefore, instead of 

 returning to the starting point, they follow the fresh 

 track and proceed as before. If they do not again cross 

 a track they know that the bear must be within the 

 circle ; they advance a little way within the circle, and 

 make another ring; and thus they proceed, gradually 

 limiting the circle, until they have enclosed the bear 

 within a comparatively small circumference. They next 

 inform the sportsmen of what they have done, beaters are 

 then collected, the number varying according to the 

 extent of the circle ; they are placed in a semi-circle, 

 while the sportsmen stand in a line at distances from 

 fifty to eighty yards from one another, according to the 

 number of guns, and the nature of the ground. The bear, 

 roused from his slumbers by the shouts and cries of the 

 peasants, generally comes within shot of one or another of 

 the guns, but it seldom happens that a single shot suffices 

 to kill Misha (Michael), as the Russians call him. When 

 wounded, the bear, especially if it be a mother with cubs, 

 is dangerous to encounter; the sportsman is generally, 

 however, provided with two guns, and with a spear to be 

 used en dernier ressort. In other cases a peasant having 

 discovered later in the season where the bear has made 

 his den, gives information of this to the sportsman, who, 

 along with his informant, and it may be a friend, betakes 

 himself to the spot, generally taking with him three or 

 four rough dogs, which answer the double purpose of 

 rousing the bear from his lair, and of distracting his 

 attention from the sportsman. Some bear hunters make 

 a regular campaign for several weeks together, camping 

 out at night in the forest, and pursuing, it may be for 

 days in succession, a bear likely to escape them. 



' The best season of the year for bear-hunting is January 



