THE BLACK SLOTH BEAR 



had followed his tracks for a considerable distance, 

 at first in the low country, and then up a rocky hill. 

 The men, having lost the tracks, were searching for 

 them, when, from under a boulder which we had 

 already passed, proceeded some very strong ursine 

 language. In two or three seconds more the bear 

 appeared on the top of the boulder, advancing 

 towards us in a very bad temper indeed, when a 

 bullet from my '500 express in the neck killed him. 

 Had this bear only run away down the hill, I could 

 not even have seen him on account of rocks ; but 

 being a "three-cornered" brute, he preferred to 

 show fight on no more provocation than that of 

 being disturbed while enjoying his siesta. I have 

 reason therefore to question Mr. Sterndale's dictum 

 on this point, and I believe that the natives who 

 have been mauled by bears which they have 

 suddenly encountered have been injured alike by 

 males, as by females, with or without cubs. 



The Indian sloth bear measures from 5 to 6 feet 

 in length. The male possesses a unique bone, out 

 of which a paper-cutter may be made. 



There are several methods whereby bears may 

 be brought to bag. 



In some localities, they may be driven out of 

 jungle by beaters, precisely as are tigers. In such 

 cases it is merely a question of a steady shot just 

 behind the shoulder, should the bear be passing the 

 sportsman's post ; or through the yellowish or white 

 horse-shoe mark in the centre of the chest, should 

 he be coming towards the rifle. Bears often show 

 remarkable vitality so far as body- shots are con- 



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