212 



A BEAR SHOT. 



\January, 



temperature of 20, with light breeze in the face, was 

 experienced. 



January 28. Early this morning, about two A.M., the 

 dogs gave notice that a stranger was in the grounds, 

 and, by their yelping, probably within a few yards of the 

 Observatory. Lieutenant May and Mr. Pym followed up 

 the " cry," and, led forward by the dogs, came up with 

 a bear, which was brought to bay by the dogs on an ele- 

 vated ice hummock. Poor Bruin was evidently puzzled, 

 doubtless calculating on being beset by so many wolves ; 

 but his fate was soon settled by a rifle ball, when the 

 dogs rushed in, and would, if not kept down, have made 

 a warm meal. Three of the pups, evidently quite unac- 

 customed to be in such presence, were very daring, but 

 fortunately escaped unscathed. Even at this early hour 

 volunteers were found to flay and bring in the skin ; 

 no accounting for taste ! 



About this period I constructed a vane, to determine 

 the effect of the direct force of the wind on a thermo- 



meter exposed to its full influence, a, compared with its 

 opposite, sheltered, b. The results were too trifling to 



