To the top of the duga is attached the bearing-rein, and underneath the highest part of it is fastened a big bell--in the southern provinces I found two, and sometimes even three bells--which, when the country is open and the atmosphere still, may be heard a mile off.

The use of the bell is variously explained.

Some say it is in order to frighten the wolves, and others that it is to avoid collisions on the narrow forest-paths.

But neither of these explanations is entirely satisfactory.

It is used chiefly in summer, when there is no danger of an attack from wolves; and the number of bells is greater in the south, where there are no forests.