IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL.' 107 



of its cage and swings from tbem. It is generally good humoured 

 and playful, and affords more amusement than other bears. The 

 younger ones are excellent climbers, and, if allowed, will remain during 

 the greater part of the day on a tree, scrambling from branch to branch 

 or sitting hidden in its thick foliage. The adult Malayan bear, which 

 lived in the garden between 1876 and 1879, was in the habit of 

 snatching away umbrellas, sticks, hats, and caps from visitors who 

 ventured too near its cage and evidently enjoyed the fun of their 

 anxiety to get possession of the lost articles, which it never dropped 

 until they were gone from the place. This bear exhibited a remarkable 

 attachment to its keeper, whose caresses and attention it enjoyed and 

 reciprocated. 



(Ill) THE SLOTH BEAR. 



(MELUESUS UESINUS— (Shaw.) ) 

 Bengali — Bhaluh. 

 This is the common bear of the plains. Its distinguishing character- 

 istics are its elongated and mobile snout ; large, powerful, and curved 

 claws; coarse and shaggy fur, and short, unshapely hind legs. Its 

 colour is black throughout, except the end of the muzzle, which is dirty 

 grey ; a white horse-shoe shaped mark on the chest ; claws white or 

 grey. The hair along the middle line of the back parted. The average 

 length of a sloth bear is about 5 feet, males being larger than the 



Hob. — Throughout the hilly and jungly parts of the peninsula of 

 India ; its western limit is Kattywar and Cutch, its range northward is 

 limited by the Indian desert ; but taking India generally, the northern 

 range of the animal is the base of the Himalayas ; its eastern limit 

 is probably confined to Western Bengal. Specimens have been received 

 from Midnapore, Orissa, Manbhoom, Sonthal Pergunnahs, Grya, Mirza- 

 pore, Hazaribagh, and its neighbourhood. 



Length of life in captivity. 



Though living probably within twenty miles of Calcutta, these 

 bears have been found not to bear captivity well, so that the longest 

 period that a specimen ever lived in the garden has been only about 

 six years. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — Cages such as have been described for other species are 

 suitable for this also. Wet, damp, and cold should be avoided as much 

 as possible. The popular method of keeping bears in a pit, as in the 

 London Zoological Garden, is altogether unsuited to a hot climate. The 

 mortality among animals so treated was sufficient to demonstrate this. 



Food. — Biscuits agree admirably with most bears, but some will not 

 touch them. All like sweets more or less, and sugarcane is a favourite 

 food of all. As in their wild state they chiefly feed on fruits, and 

 insects, and, amongst other things, the fleshy sweet petals of the mowha 

 flower (Bama latifolia), which they greatly like, honey, the young of 

 bees, beetles and larva?, and ants, it is no wonder that they do not 



