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88 BEARS. 



The bear of the plains of India is the only animal of 

 his tribe that does not hybernate. There is no reason for 

 his doing so, for his food is obtainable throughout the 

 year, so he is always available for sport. When the cold 

 weather sets in, and the small game shooting trips are 

 organised about Christmas, his pursuit often proves an 

 agreeable change from that of the -everlasting snipe and 

 duck. Moreover these parties frequently include members 

 who go out merely for picnicking and not from anxiety 

 to slay small game. A bear, however, is sufficient to put 

 them on their mettle, and to make them keener for sport; 

 and it often happens that the uncertainties of the chase 

 bring the brunt of the encounter on them. 



There is no sport so fertile in ridiculous incidents as 

 bear shooting, chiefly owing to the eccentric nature of the 

 brute himself ; but these situations become multiplied 

 when his pursuers are tyros, while there is no serious 

 danger owing to the rifles held in reserve by adjacent 

 friends. The bear is reputed to have no chest bone ; his 

 lungs are therefore a very vulnerable point. He is also said 

 to hug his victims to death, but such a case has never 

 occurred to my knowledge, although it is well known that 

 he can kill a man with one blow of his paw which is 

 furnished with claws nearly four inches long, his chief 

 weapons of offence. When he seizes a man, in addition to 

 clawing him about the head and body, he uses his teeth 

 and inflicts terrible wounds about the arms and shoulders ; 

 but the victim often recovers, as pyaemia seldom sets in, 

 owing to the absence of the virus which usually accom- 

 panies those inflicted by a tiger or panther. 



