519 



Cashmere, mount to the topmost branches of the walnut and mul- 

 berry trees. Whole crops of Indian corn have been completely 

 destroyed in one night by these unwelcome intruders. The farmers 

 build raised platforms in their fields, on which watchmen sit all 

 night and keep up a continual screaming in order to frighten them 

 away. The bears retire from feeding at daybreak, and pass the day 

 in sleep among the dense jungles, repairing to their feeding-grounds 

 at dusk. Although not generally confined to one locality, I have 

 known individuals of both this and the brown species choose some 

 rocky ridge near a spring, where they remain for years, moving up 

 and down the same pathway until a deep stair-like track has been 

 made by their treading always in the same foot-prints. "When 

 the two species meet, the Brown is almost invariably the first to turn 

 tail ; it is therefore seldom they are seen near one another. It 

 was only in Cashmere that I ever saw the two together. Natives 

 say, during autumn, when the two species repair to jungles to feed 

 on wild apples and walnuts, as the Brown Bear cannot climb, he 

 waits until the other has ascended, and then feeds on the walnuts 

 knocked down by the Black Bear. Both these species possess great 

 powers of smell ; indeed it would appear their security from danger 

 is almost alone dependent on this sense, as their eyesight is by no 

 means good. A bear will discover the presence of the hunter fully 

 a mile off, if the wind is favourable. Should he have cause of sus- 

 picion, the bear commences to snuff the air, looks excited, walks a 

 few steps in the direction from which the wind blows, raising his 

 head and moving it from side to side until satisfied of the danger ; he 

 then turns tail and scampers up the mountain-side at a rapidity few 

 who have seen the animal in confinement would imagine it capable 

 of. There are many instances of this species having attacked both 

 natives and Europeans when approached suddenly in thick jungle. 

 If frightened on a steep mountain-side, it often coils itself in the 

 form of a ball, and rolls down the declivity. I have seen one in this 

 way roll down a hill side for upwards of 300 yards without stopping. 

 The young are born in spring, and remain with the parent during 

 summer. One is the general produce ; but not unfrequently two or 

 even three are born at one litter. 



Note. — On the ranges near the plains of the Punjab a Bear is 

 found rather smaller than the above ; its fur is longer, and that on 

 the paws and snout of a rust-colour. This may only be a variety ; 

 but the distinctions stated are worthy of attention. I have seen 

 several skins ; and all were marked as I have described ; and I find 

 in the 'Calcutta Sporting Review' for September 1848, a similar 

 remark by " Mountaineer " (the well-known and observant Mr. 

 Wilson, of Mussouree), who likewise says that a species with a white 

 mark on the forehead is spoken of by the natives of a district near 

 Mussouree ; but from my own personal experience and the informa- 

 tion I have received from native and European sportsmen on the Hi- 

 malayas, I have hitherto been able to discover only the two decidedly 

 distinct species here mentioned. The varieties in regard to shades 

 of colour have doubtless caused many to assert that there are two or 



