NATURALIST IN INDIA. 241 



it lies all day, to issue forth at nightfall and feed in fields 

 and gardens. The black bear is not uncommon along the foot 

 of the barrier-chains of Cashmere, and during the fruit season 

 may be found in the valley, where its depredations among the 

 apple, walnut, and mulberry trees are well known, and whole 

 crops of Indian corn are sometimes completely destroyed by 

 these unwelcome intruders. Although said to attack sheep 

 at times, this species is eminently a vegetable feeder, and so 

 expert in climbing trees that it may frequently be seen on 

 the topmost branches, standing erect, and seizing the branches 

 with its fore-paws. The shickarees have often told me that 

 as the brown bear does not climb, he waits until the other 

 has mounted, and then feeds on the fruit driven down by the 

 black bear. The Tibet bear does not hibernate, and usually 

 spends the winter in forests and dense jungles, feeding on 

 acorns and roots. It is not partial to localities, and is con- 

 stantly changing its beat. Individuals of both species, when 

 old, often select a cave in some rocky ridge near a good feed- 

 ing-ground, and continue for years to make it their head- 

 quarters, and from constantly treading in the same footprints 

 form a regular flight of steps towards the retreat. The black 

 bear is much bolder than the brown species, and has been 

 known to attack man. I need not mention that the sloth 

 bear (Ursus Idbiatus) of the plains of India is not found on 

 the mountains. 



On the 5th of June, accompanied by Halkett, I retraced 

 my steps towards Serinuggur. Starting at an early hour, we 

 arrived at the " great boulder " by 9 p.m., and after breakfast- 

 ing, pushed upwards. The snow had disappeared, except on 

 the summit of the pass, where it still lay hard and crisp. A 

 few monal pheasants, scared at our approach, swept down 

 the ravines in all their beauty, and roused the echoes around 



K 



