96 NATUIIALIST'S CABINET. 



Methods of taking bears. 



tic figure is placed. As soon as the animal 

 touches the rope, the wooden figure starts loose; 

 and the bear, endeavouring to save himself by 

 flight, falls with a violent force into the pit, and 

 is killed by the pointed post. If he escape this 

 snare, at a little distance, spiked irons, like those 

 used to annoy an enemy's cavalry, frequently 

 await him; among which, a similar image is 

 erected. The persecuted beast, the more he 

 strives to get free, fixes himself faster to the spot; 

 and the concealed hunter soon dispatches him. 



The Koriacks catch these animals by the fol- 

 lowing contrivance. They find some crooked 

 tree, grown into an arched form; and at the 

 bowed end of it they attach a noose, with a bait. 

 The hungry bear is tempted by this object, and 

 eagerly climbs into the tree ; but on his moving 

 the branch the noose draws together, and he re- 

 mains suspended from the tree, which violently 

 springs back into its former position. 



In the mountainous parts of Siberia, they fas?- 

 ten a very heavy block to a rope, that terminates 

 at the other end with a loop. This is laid near 

 a steep precipice, in the path on which the bear 

 is accustomed to go. On getting his neck into 

 the noose, and finding himself impeded by the 

 clog, the animal takes it up in a rage, and to free 

 himself from it, throws it down the precipice; 

 and he, being pulled after it, is instantly killed 

 by the fall. Should this, however, not prove the 

 case, he drags the block again up the mountain. 



