SNOW BEAR. 269 



closes the animars bowels, when it retires 

 into its den to sleep out the winter months. 

 I have not had a satisfactory opportunity of 

 ascertaining whether the same process takes 

 place with our snow bears, but I think it 

 most probable that such is the case. They 

 are rarely seen after the first severe fall 

 of snow, which happens generally the 

 beginning of December, until the return 

 of spring, about March, passing the inter- 

 vening period without partaking of food, so 

 no doubt something of the kind must 

 take place. 



During my lengthened residence in the 

 Himalayas, I have never known but one 

 instance, of a snow bear having been found 

 and killed, in its winter quarters. This was 

 in the month of February. The villagers 

 discovered it in a cave, whilst hunting a 

 gerow, and although unprovided with fire- 

 arms, managed, with the assistance of dogs, 

 to kill it. Singularly enough, it was much 

 fatter than snow bears generally are, yet all 

 I have killed in the spring, have invariably 



