108 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



thrive in captivity, many of these articles being difficult to procure at 

 reasonable prices. Attempts were at one time made to lay in a stock 

 of mowha flowers, but failed, as they would not keep fresh, and stale 

 mowha was found to be deleterious rather than beneficial. On the whole, 

 biscuits, bread, gram, Indian- corn, sugarcane, and various kinds of 

 fruits are the articles of diet that can be most recommended for this or 

 any other species of bear. In feeding sloth bears it must be remembered 

 that they have a peculiar habit of sucking up their food, and it is there- 

 fore well to lubricate it if it happens to be boiled rice, bread, &c, with a 

 little milk: fresh grass should always be given them. Sometimes 

 animals become so partial to the food they are brought up on from 

 infancy, that they would rather die of starvation than taste anything 

 else. A pair of adolescent sloth bears were once sent down from 

 upcountry , and in the usual course the ordinary food for bears was offered 

 them, but though hungry they would not touch it ; other articles of 

 diet were supplied, but again they were left untouched ; milk, bread, 

 biscuits, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables, raisins, eggs, pupse of ants, — in 

 fact everything constituting a bear's diet was procured and in turn 

 offered, without avail. At last it was ascertained that they were 

 accustomed to feed on chappati and ddl. It was, however, too late for 

 one of them, which had already died of starvation. The surviving 

 beast is thriving apace on this diet. 



Transport. — It may be transported like any other species. 



Treatment in sickness. 

 Diarrhoea, dysentery, and hepatic disorders are the ailments from 

 which these bears suffer in captivity. Bael in some form or other and 

 aromatic powder of chalk are the best remedies for diarrhoea. In very 

 mild cases no medicine should be given, but the diet changed. 



Observations on the habits of a Sloth Bear. 



This bear is a familiar object, as it is the one commonly led about 

 by jugglers and itinerant showmen and taught to dance. It has, it is 

 believed, to suffer no little cruelty while being trained for these exhibi- 

 tions. In captivity some sloth bears become very tame, but generally 

 they are not sociable animals. The young ones are playful enough up 

 to about a year old, repaying caresses and advances with their antics 

 and amusing tricks. They appear to be more intelligent about this age 

 than when they grow older. Confinement and adult age sour their temper. 

 Like other species, they rear up on their hind legs when suddenly 

 confronted or frightened, but cannot retain this position long. Under 

 ordinary circumstances they are not noisy, but when angry utter a 

 kind of rapid snorting grunt. This may be observed when an ill- 

 tempered beast, resenting the approach of anybody near its cage, 

 rushes towards him at full speed. The young ones are, however, 

 more noisy ; they have the curious habit of sucking their limbs, generally 

 their forepaws, or the ears of a companion, keeping up the while a 

 kind of continuous half-subdued humming sound. Adult bears are also 

 known to do the same. They are excellent climbers. 



For further information about the habits of these bears, Blanford's 

 " Fauna of British India, Mammalia," and Colonel MacMaster's " Notes 

 on Jerdon's Mammalia " may be consulted. 



