MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 313 



tree exactly on the only exit from the jungle. This is always a great mis- 

 take. The bear was dropped as she came towards the macjian, but being 

 only slightly wounded she at once recovered ; the second barrel missed fire, 

 and the enraged brute crossed under the tree and commenced to climb the 

 sloping trunk. Fortunately, a second rifle was available, and the '500 express 

 bullet, striking the chest, knocked her over backwards, though without doing 

 any mortal injury. However, a second shot, as she rose to her. feet, broke 

 her spine, and she was speedily put out of pain, Had not a second rifle 

 been handy, it might have been awkward for the hunters. 



No wild dogs were bagged during the year, but it is feared that these pests 

 are on the increase. My trackers brought in a Chital stag* which had been 

 killed by three of these brutes, and reported that the dogs were leaping at 

 the haunches of the running deer, tearing away the flesh. Ultimately the stag 

 fell screaming with the pain and fear, whilst the dogs continued to attack it 

 from behind. They were then driven off, and the deer, unable to rise and 

 injured beyond recovery, was killed and brought into camp. 



Neither Jerdon or Blanford afford much information about the Indian 

 Badger, but I can vouch for its courage, as the following adventure will prove. 

 I noticed a pair of these animals in some long grass at the edge of a stream, and 

 the mahout begged me to secure one for medicinal purposes. I therefore 

 fired at short range with a rifle and missed. The smaller badger, 

 presumably the female, then ran away, whilst the larger faced the elephant, 

 erecting all the hair on his back, shewing his teeth and uttering a hissing, 

 growling note. The elephant was much terrified, and the little fellow made 

 good his retreat, slowly turning every few feet to threaten his pursuers, 

 until he reached his burrow in the bank, down which he disappeared with 

 a final growl. 



S. EARDLEY WILMOT, 



Conservator, Oudh. 

 Naini Tal, 23rd May, 1897. 



No. VI.-SCORPION CARRYING A FLOWER. 

 One evening last February, while sitting in the verandah of my house at 

 Aden, my attention was drawn to an object advancing across the floor, which 

 seemed to be some peculiar leaf-insect or Phasma. On looking at it closer I 

 saw it to be a scorpion (identified by Mr. Pocock from my description as 

 Parabuthus liosoma), which was holding over its back by one claw a large 

 blossom of Poinciana regiq, known in Aden as the white gold-mohur tree. 

 Its tail, curled over its back, further assisted in retaining the flower in posi- 

 tion. The nearest tree from which it could have obtained it was at least 30 

 feet away, and to bring it the scorpion must have carried it over a low stone 

 parapet and up two or three steps, so that intention seems to be proved, What 



