The following quaint paragraphs we extract from Spanish newspapers:--
FIGHT WITH A BEAR.--In the mountains of the Province of Lerida (Catalonia) a bear last week attacked and overpowered a muleteer, intending to devour him. A shepherd who happened to be in the neighbourhood, though at some little distance, witnessed the occurrence. Hastening with his utmost speed to the spot, he threw himself between the bear and its victim; and after a prolonged and strenuous combat (_lucha larga y esforzada_), the shepherd succeeded with his lance (_garrocha_) in killing the savage beast (_fiera_).
In his gratitude, the muleteer desired to present the shepherd with the best horse of his cavalcade, but this the latter declined.--_November 24, 1907._
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.