HIMALAYAN BLACK BEAR — SLOTH-BEAR 141 



chin is white, the upper lip whitish, and the nose and occasionally the paws 

 are reddish brown. The average length is about 5 feet, exclusive of the tail, 

 which measures 4 inches. Full-grown males, which are usually larger than the 

 females, have an average weight of 300 lbs. Unlike the sloth-bear, this species has 

 a smooth coat with hair of moderate length. There is no under-fur, but in winter 

 the greater length of the hair on the shoulders makes the animal look humpbacked. 

 The claws are short and strong, and the ears rather large and long-haired. 



In the Himalaya, but not in Baluchistan, this bear is a forest-animal, and is 

 found in the mountains in summer up to a height of 12,000 feet, but in winter 

 rarely above 5000 feet. It is often seen near villages, devouring fruit in the 

 orchards and corn in the fields. Its food in winter consists principally of acorns 

 and chestnuts, but at other times of fruit and roots. This species is, however, not 

 so fond of roots as is the brown bear of the Himalaya, although it often climbs 

 trees in search of fruit, generally during the night or early morning. Like other 

 bears it is fond of honey, and yet in spite of all this it is the most carnivorous of 

 all Indian bears, killing sheep, goats, ponies, and cattle, and at times feeding on 

 carcases. 



All reports agree in considering the black bear a more dangerous animal 

 than the brown species, and sin^e it lives in the neighbourhood of villages it 

 oftener comes in contact with man. It is said to see and hear better than the 

 brown bear, while its sense of smell is reported to be singularly keen by some 

 observers and mediocre by others. In walking and running it is a thorough bear, 

 having the fast shambling trot of its kindred ; and, like its brown cousin, is a good 

 swimmer. 



Its usual abode is in the depths of the forest, to which it retires for rest in 

 caves, hollows of trees, or dense bushes. Except during pairing-time these bears 

 are generally solitary. The cubs, often those of two successive years, remain with 

 the mother until full-grown. Generally two in number, they are born in spring and 

 are very small at birth and do not open their eyes for some time. 



A characteristic mammal is the sloth-bear (Melursus ursinus), 

 which inhabits India from the foot of the Himalaya to Capa 

 Comorin, and occurs in Ceylon. Living principally in bushy, hilly districts, this 

 bear ranges as far as the outskirts of the Indian desert to the north, and to 

 Kathiawar in the west. It seems to occur in the north and east of Bengal, but its 

 identity with the bear inhabiting the plains of Assam has not yet been satisfactorily 

 made out. The sloth-bear has one pair of incisors less than other bears in its upper 

 jaw; its teeth comprising two incisors, one canine, and six cheek-teeth on each side 

 of the upper jaw, and three incisors, one canine, and seven cheek-teeth on each side of 

 the lower jaw. The claws of the sloth-bear are large and strong, and the snout and 

 lower lip very extensile and flexible. The hair is coarse and long, longest between 

 the shoulders, and the colour is black, except for the dull grey tip of the nose, a 

 narrow white semicircular spot on the chest, and the white claws. In length this 

 bear measures about 5 feet, the tail being about another 5 inches; the average 

 shoulder-height is some 30 inches, and the weight of a male (considerably more 

 than that of the female) may be 330 lbs. or more. 



The sloth-bear is still one of the most common animals of India. In some 



