914 Journal of a trip through Kunawur. [Nov. 



nuisance that it is considered a feather in a man's cap to shoot one. 

 The elder brother of the Churria who accompanied me to Spiti had 

 killed no less than fifteen bears, and was looked upon as a Nimrod in 

 consequence. 



The red variety is said to differ in nothing from the common black 

 or Thibet species, except that it is red while the other is black. Both 

 are said to possess the white band across the breast, but that it is con- 

 stant in neither. I strongly suspect that subsequent research will 

 prove that there are at least two if not three distinct species in these 

 hills, namely, the Thibet bear, the red bear, and another black species 

 without the white crescent on the breast, of smaller size and greater 

 ferocity. 



The natives say, both black and red live together in the same haunts, 

 and that when both come down to feed at night in the vallies, the red 

 one does not always return to the heights, but remains in the lower 

 haunts of the black bear. If this statement be correct it would argue 

 a greater difference in the species than that of colour, for why should 

 climate act on some and not on all, since all are in turn found equally 

 near the snows. If colour were the only difference, then the red 

 one by staying in the haunts of the black bear would resume his 

 former colour, and the black one by going to the heights would become 

 red ; but as this is said not to be the case, and that both black and red 

 can reside together either high or low, it goes far to prove a specific 

 distinction; the red bear is however found chiefly near the summits 

 of the ridges, while the black one inhabits the lower and more wood- 

 ed tracts in the thick forests of oak, where they feed upon the acorns 

 and other fruits. Both species in the autumn make nightly incursions 

 into the fields of phuppra, which they destroy in quantities, and they 

 also in the summer approach the villages and steal the apricots. 



In the winter time when food is scarce they are said to tear down 

 the wooden hives, which are built into the walls of the houses, and to 

 devour the honey, nor is this the extent of their plundering, for they 

 have been known to force open the door of the sheep house, and run 

 away with the fattest of the flock. A lad who accompanied me, hearing 

 the questions I asked regarding these animals, very gravely declared 

 that when the bee-hives were too high to be reached from the ground, 

 the bears went to the forest and brought a long pole, which they 

 planted against the wall and used as a ladder ! We all laughed at this 

 thumping fib, which was evidently made for the occasion, but he 

 only persisted in it the more, and at last swore that he had seen 

 them do so ! ! 



