FAUNA. 237 
then proceed with greater caution, and when they con- 
sider that the bear is not very far off they leave the 
track and make a circle, returning to their starting place. 
Should they, when making this ring, again cross the 
track of the animal, they know that he has gone beyond 
the space they are enclosing, and therefore, instead of 
returning to the starting point, they follow the fresh 
track and proceed as before. If they do not again cross 
a track they know that the bear must be within the 
circle; they advance a little way within the circle, and 
make another ring; and thus they proceed, gradually 
limiting the circle, until they have enclosed the bear 
within a comparatively small circumference. They next 
inform the sportsmen of what they have done, beaters are 
then collected, the number varying according to the 
extent of the circle; they are placed in a semi-circle, 
while the sportsmen stand in a line at distances from 
fifty to eighty yards from one another, according to the 
number of guns, and the nature of theground. The bear, 
roused from his slumbers by the shouts and cries of the 
peasants, generally comes within shot of one or another of 
the guns, but it seldom happens that a single shot suffices 
to kill Misha (Michael), as the Russians call him. When 
wounded, the bear, especially if it be a mother with cubs, 
is dangerous to encounter; the sportsman is generally, 
however, provided with two guns, and with a spear to be 
used en dernier ressort. In other cases a peasant having 
discovered later in the season where the bear has made 
his den, gives information of this to the sportsman, who, 
along with his informant, and it may be a friend, betakes 
himself to the spot, generally taking with him three or 
four rough dogs, which answer the double purpose of 
‘rousing the bear from his lair, and of distracting his 
attention from the sportsman. Some bear hunters make 
a regular campaign for several weeks together, camping 
out at night in the forest, and pursuing, it may be for 
days in succession, a bear likely to escape them. 
‘The best season of the year for bear-hunting is January 
