80 
U RSI D^E. MAMMALIA, 
■Ursid^. 
she made a second rush, her eyes glaring like balls of 
fire. At a few paces from her enemy she rose on her 
hind legs, intending to give him a settler with her 
powerful paws, or to clasp him in her savage embrace ; 
but on the instant, he made a sweep with his club, 
and dealt a blow that toppled her over. She was up 
again in a second, and ready for action, but another 
blow laid her prostrate. This added to her ferocity, 
and it at once became a close encounter of the most 
deadly and savage character. Many rounds were 
fought, her antagonist keeping clear of her paws. At 
last the blows began to tell on her courage. She 
endeavoured to get behind him ; but his cudgel met 
her at every turn, and was so well wielded that when- 
ever within reach she received a stroke which drove her 
back step by step, till both came under the tree. 
Here the fight was renewed with increased fuiy, and 
every time the cubs whined she made her attack with 
redoubled violence. The battle continued to rage 
furiously ; but the blows from the staff fell so fast, and 
were applied with so much force, that at last she 
began a retreat towards the forest, the skirts of which 
she entered ; but the moment her brave assailant 
moved a step towards the tree, she would rush out, 
taking especial care, however, not to come within his 
reach. The cubs remained in the branches the sole 
spectators of this extraordinary scene; nor could the 
Cossack officer devise any plan by which he could get 
them down. At their respective posts the combat- 
ants stood, he guarding the cubs, and the mother 
standing at the edge of the forest. At this time a 
woodman returning to the gold mine, rode into the 
glade. He was instantly hailed, and rode towards the 
tree ; but when he heard the growls, and beheld the 
bear, then in her most savage mood, his natural 
impulse to bolt was only checked by the fear of a 
birching promised by his superior. He was ordered 
to dismount, and take from his saddle the zumlca (large 
leathern bags), and open them ; then to climb the tree, 
and bring down the cubs. The man was soon up 
among the branches, secured a cub, brought it down, 
and then tied it safe in the bag. The other was also 
quickly placed beside it in the other bag. During 
these operations the mother rushed at the Cossack, 
and was several times knocked down by his weapon. 
The peasant was now ordered to place the bags on his 
horse, and lead the way to the gold mine, the Cossack 
covering the retreat, and beating off the enemy at 
every charge. After a walk of nearly two hours, they 
reached the village, the bear keeping close up with 
them. As they went through the forest, she made 
many charges, but each time was laid prostrate, and 
finally would not a{)proach within striking distance. 
When they reached the village the Cossack officer 
hoped to secure the dam ; but after following them to 
the cottages, she returned to the forest, and was never 
seen again. The cubs were kept, and became great 
pets with the people. Even the hardy hunters of 
Siberia consider this a most daring feat, wondering at 
the power, and admiring the cool courage of the man 
who accomplished it.” Mr. Atkinson records many 
other pleasing adventures and interesting facts con- 
nected with the Siberian bear. Like most other 
quadrupeds, this animal has a great fear of fire ; but 
when pressed with hunger he will, in order to seize 
any person who may be reposing by a fire in fancied 
security, deliberately enter some stream, and having 
saturated his fur with water, put out the fire by rolling 
over it, and then secure his victim. Bears have been 
known, even in the wild state, to show attachment to 
young people ; and the same author mentions an 
instance where two young children, two and four 
years of age respectively, had wandered from a hay- 
field where their parents were at work, and when the 
father and mother went to look for them, lo and 
behold ! one was sitting on a huge bear’s back, whilst 
the other was feeding the beast with wild fruit! 
The children readily came away at their parents’ 
alarming calls, and Bruin seemed vexed to part with 
his joyous little companions. 
THE S'SHIIAN BEAR {Ursus syriacus). — This 
appears to be a well-marked species ; the fur is of a 
fulvous or light-brown colour, whilst on the upper part of 
the neck there is a mane of thick rigid hairs, wind 
increase in length towards the shoulders, tei'minating 
posteriorly about the centre of the back. The Syrian 
bear, though often feasting upon animals, is said to be 
jiarticularly partial to certain kinds of vegetable food, 
and more especially to the chick-pea, Cicer arieiinus, 
entire crops being laid waste by its ravages. 
HORSFIELD’S BEAR ( Ursus isabellinus) is an inha- 
bitant of the entire Himalayan chain of hills, and, like 
the foregoing species, is of a pale fulvous colour ; it is, 
however, quite a distinct form. According to Dr. 
Horsfield, it resembles “the European bears in its 
structure, as far at least as can be determined from the 
parts which have been preserved in the specimen 
(procured from Nepaul). Among these, the claws 
afford the best means of comparison ; they are small, 
obtuse, and straight ; while those of the Asiatic bears 
(f7. thibetinus, U. labiahis, and U. malayanus) are 
large, strongly-curved, acute, and fitted for climbing.” 
THE SLOTH BEAR {Ursus labiatus) exhibits so 
striking a resemblance to a sloth, that when it was first 
made known to Europeans, it was actually described 
as a species of Bradypus. Some confusion has arisen 
respecting it, partly perhaps on account of the varied 
nomenclature by which it has been indicated ; thus it 
is called the Ursine sloth, the Labiated bear, the Jungle 
bear, and one author denominates it the Bengal bear. 
It is an awkward, unwieldy animal. The body is 
clothed with thickly-set, black, shaggy hair, which 
becomes much longer when the animal is old. The 
head is depressed and attenuated in front, the nasal 
cartilage being movable and extensile. The lips are 
capable of protrusion, this being especially the case 
with the lower one. Captain Thomas Williamson, in 
his “ Oriental Field Sports,” remarks that “ the Bengal 
bear is distinguished by the deep black colour of his 
hair, and by a crescent of white hair, like a gorget, on 
his breast. The hind legs are shorter, and the paws 
flatter and longer than those of the European breed ; 
his pace is more shuffling, awkward, and laboured, 
though quick enough to overtake a man on foot ; and 
his hair is long and thinly scattered over his body. He 
is remarkablj' active in climbing; frequently, when not 
