THE COMMON BEAR. S-IQ 



foot above the bottom. The pit is carefully cover- 

 ed over Vv'ith sods ; and across the track of the 

 Bear, a small rope with an elastic figure is placed. 

 As soon as the Bear touches the rope, the v^^ooden 

 figure starts loose ; and the affrighted animal, endea- 

 vouring to save himself by flight, falls with a vio- 

 lent force into the pit, and is killed by the pointed 

 post. If he escapes this snare, at a little distance se- 

 veral Caltrops* and other instruments ofannoyanca 

 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 hunter who lies in ambush^ soon 

 dispatches him. 



Yet not only beneath and upon the earth, but 

 even in the air, has Man's inventive genius con- 

 trived to lay snares for the liberty and the life of 

 this animal. The Koriacks, for this purpose, find 

 some crooked tree, grown into an arched form ; 

 at the bowed end of winch they attach a noose, with 

 g, bait. The hungry Bear is tempted by this ob- 

 ject, and eagerly climbs into the tree, where he be- 

 comes infallibly the victim of his attempt ; for, on 

 his moving the branch, the noose draws together, and 

 he remains suspended to tlie tree, which violently 

 springs back into its former position. 



But still more singular and ingenious is the m.e- 

 tliod adopted by the inhabitants of the mountainous 



* Tions with four spikes ; so formed that, whiclicvcr wav tl^ey fall, one 

 point always lies upwards. These are generally used for throwing inta 

 breaches, or ou bi lilacs, in lime of win; to annoy an enemy's caviilry. 



