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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



during the day, 

 tributed to the 

 tender as to be 

 tute the surface 

 In the polar 

 aquatic member 

 scarcely second 

 white, tinged w 

 with different i 



and performs its rambles by night. This habit is at- 

 fact that the soles of its feet are covered by a skin so 

 easily blistered by the sun-heated rocks which consti- 

 of its mountain-home. 



bear ( Ursus maritimus) the bear family possesses an 

 . It is inferior in size only to the grizzly bear, and is 

 to him in strength and ferocity. Its color is silvery 

 ith a slightly yellowish hue, which varies in intensity 

 ndividuals. The neck is longer in proportion to the 



Fig. 8. Asiatic or Sloth Bear (Ursus labiatus). 



body than in any other bear, and the head is far smaller, and very 

 much pointed. It is also characterized by almost entire absence cf 

 facial alible, there beine; a nearly unbroken line of descent from the 

 forehead to the nose. The foot, also, is of greater comparative length, 

 being about one-sixth the length of the body, while in the brown bear 

 it is only one-tenth. The sole is covered with a thick fur, which ena- 

 bles the animal to tread firmly upon the ice. The claws are slightly 

 curved, though not very long. They are quite black, so that they 

 stand out in strong contrast with the fur surrounding them. 



The polar bear is necessarily carnivorous, from the circumstances 

 under which it exists, vegetable food being absent from its icy haunts; 

 however, when captured and brought to warmer latitudes, it will sub- 

 sist on a vegetable diet. It lives on fish and seals, and is said to occa- 

 sionally capture a walrus. Its movements are remarkably quick. One 

 was observed to dive from a block of ice and capture a passing salmon. 

 Its mode of capturing the seal evidences much sagacity. Observing 

 the position of the basking seal, it dives into the water and swims in 

 that direction beneath the surface, occasionally sticking out its nose 

 to " catch a breath." Proceeding thus, it rises at length close to the 

 seal, which, cut off from the water, falls an easy prey, escape over the 

 ice being impossible, on account of the swifter movements of the bear. 



