INCURSION OF A BEAR.--In the outskirts of the village of Parámo in the Province of Oviedo (Asturias) there has within the last few days made its presence felt an immense bear which continued to execute terrible destruction among the cattle belonging to the villagers. Fortunately the parish-priest, who is an expert shot, succeeded in killing the depredator. It weighed 140 kilograms (= 300 lbs.).--_April 25, 1908._ [Two others are recorded to weigh 400 and 440 lbs.] CHASE OF A SHE-BEAR--SANTANDÉR, _February 1909_. From Molledo an assemblage of the local peasantry, mustered for the purpose, and bearing every kind of weapon, sallied forth, to give battle to a bear which for some weeks had been working havoc among their flocks and herds. After traversing the mountains in all directions without result, they were already returning, dead-beat and disappointed, towards their village, when they suddenly descried the bear standing in the entrance to a cave. On observing the presence of hunters, the animal disappeared within. A shepherd named Melchor Martinez at once followed, penetrating the interior of the cavern which extends far into the mountain-side. Presently on indistinctly perceiving (_divisando_) the beast, Melchor gave it a shot--flying out himself with hair all standing on end (_encrespados_) at the roaring of the wild beast (_fiera_). Melchor, nevertheless, at once entered the den again and fired a second shot--jumping out immediately thereafter. After a short interval, the roars of the _fiera_ within having ceased, the hunters in a body entered the cavern and found an enormous she-bear lying dead, together with four young, alive, which they carried away. (Bravo, Melchor Martinez!) (4) GAME-BIRDS OF CANTABRIA Alike in its game-denizens with other physical features, Cantabria is differentiated from the rest of Spain, approximating rather to a north-European similitude. Thus the capercaillie is spread along the whole Biscayan range though nowhere numerous, and in appearance less so than in fact, owing to the density of these mountain-forests. During our long but fruitless rambles after bear we raised but four; that, however, was in spring when these birds are apt to lie close. In the Pyrenees (where the capercaillie is known as _Gallo de Bosque_) a certain number are shot every winter along with roebuck and pig in mountain-drives (_monterías_); but in the Asturias the pursuit of the _Gallo de Monte_ is effected (as in Austria and northern Europe) during its courting-season in May. The system is well known. The opportunity occurs at dusk and dawn, the stalker advancing while the lovelorn male sings a frenzied epithalamium, halting instantly when the bird becomes silent.