106 A HAND-BOOK OP THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



broad skull gives it a peculiar physiognomy, and its short close fur makes 

 it look elongated in form. The colour of the animal is black, the forehead 

 grey, and the muzzle pale grey ; chin almost whitish : a semi-circular 

 yellowish white patch on the chest, which is, however, variable in size in 

 different animals ; claws are long and sharp and of a horny grey colour. 

 Hab.— In India, the Garo Hills and eastern districts of Hill Tipperah 

 and Ohittagong ; found also in Tenasserim and Burmah, and extends 

 through Malay peninsula into Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. 



Length or life in captivity. 



The maximum period during which one has lived in the garden 

 has been a little over three years only, from January 1876 to May 1879. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — No special remarks are necessary on this point, except 

 that as this species is particularly of an active habit and very fond of 

 climbing trees, its habitation should be built accordingly. It would 

 conduce greatly to their welfare if some arrangements and plan could be 

 devised by which all bears in captivity in a hot climate could be 

 compelled to take more exercise than they are in the habit of taking. 

 The Malay bears do not require a bath, except occasionally during the 

 very hot weather : during the winter they should be well protected from 

 cold. The young and even adolescent beasts may be lodged with other 

 species of the same age and strength, but older animals become 

 pugnacious. 



Food. — It thrives best on a mixed diet consisting of vegetables, 

 boiled rice, bread, biscuit, egg, and milk Ordinarily biscuit is the best 

 food for this and other species. Young animals should have milk and 

 bread or milk and soaked biscuit or boiled rice and sugar. These bears 

 are extremely fond of honey and sweets in general, and are also fond of 

 insects ; they do not care for meat, but readily kill chickens and rats, and 

 have been seen invariably to tear open the entrails, whether they eat them 

 or not cannot, however, be said with certainty. 



Transport. — Though small in size and less powerful than most 

 other species, it is, nevertheless, an animal that requires careful handling. 

 Its propensities to mischief are great, and it is ever seeking to escape 

 from its prison ; lately a specimen strangled itself while on board one of 

 the river steamers from Assam to Calcutta. 



Treatment in sickness. 



An adult Malay bear, which lived longer than others of its kind in the 

 garden, died from diarrhoea and vomiting ; it was probably a case 

 of gastritis. Young ones have sometimes been seen to die rather 

 suddenly from convulsions : they also suffer from teething. 



Observations on the habits of a Malayan Bear. 



Far more active than other species whose habits have been observed 

 in this garden ; it paces its den constantly and rapidly, climbs the bars 



