Remarks on Ursus labiatus. 205 



tightening its bite till respiration ceases, at the same time 

 encircling the bear's arms within his paws, so as effectually 

 to prevent its using its claws to scratch him off. 



These animals afford, as I have said, good sport if pro- 

 perly pursued. Elephants are more in the way than of 

 use, becoming unmanageable if charged by a bear, and not 

 being able to traverse with sufficient speed the rocky places 

 where they are found. The most certain method in the 

 hot season is to lay wait for them on foot, before daybreak, 

 at the bottom of the low rocky hills they infest, so as to 

 intercept them while returning from their night's rambles ; 

 in this manner four or five at a time may be seen leisurely 

 coming over the plain. When they perceive the ambuscade 

 they gallop about to various points, endeavouring to gain 

 the hill, but are repulsed by the line of beaters drawn 

 round the foot; at length as the day gets heightened, they 

 make a headlong charge through, and if not shot or dis- 

 abled in the attempt, gain the rocks where they speedily 

 go to earth, and cannot again in most cases be dislodged. 

 In the cold season when they lay out in the scrub, or 

 "johar jungle," the shooters lay in ambush in convenient 

 spots, and a line of beaters enclosing about a quarter of 

 a mile of ground drive the bear forward. 



It is very rare that the Bhaloos show much fight on these 

 occasions. They appear bewildered by the shouting and 

 drumming of the beaters, and only bent on urging on their 

 headlong course. At times however some of these animals 

 afford a strong contest, charging all that stand before them, 

 and inflicting cruel wounds. Few who have frequently 

 pursued this sport, but have stories of narrow escapes to 

 relate ; the length of the fur deceives the aim of the sports- 

 man, and body blows, except immediately behind the 

 shoulder, appear to have no effect ; the head is the most 

 vulnerable part, and a single ball striking between the eyes 

 at the root of the muzzle is of more effect than volleys 

 poured into the carcase. 



