Bear Hunt near Naturns in the Meran District

Austrian Monarchy.

Meran, Oct. 1. A few days ago, two peasants shot a large bear in the local district not far from Naturns. It was three years old, in a very fat condition, and weighed nearly three hundredweight. The two marksmen had tracked the predator of their flocks in vain for several days until they finally succeeded in surprising it beside a freshly killed sheep, firing the balls of their rifles through its head and neck from a distance of 15 paces, so that it collapsed dead on the spot. Since the government pays a bounty of 20 fl. C.M. for every bear shot, its meat was sold to the postmaster in Naturns for 8 kreuzers per pound, and the pelt also has considerable value, the financial gain made by the two fortunate hunters from their prey is by no means small, in addition to the honor. This slain bear is the fourth killed in the Meran district within the last three years. In southern Tyrol, these bears never attack human beings, but they often inflict considerable damage on the flocks. (A. Z.)