104 ARCTIC ZOOLOGY, 



When attacked, he rears himself erect on his hinder feet, 

 and exposes his breast unknowingly to the danger, when 

 the deadly spear is easily buried in his vitals. Instances 

 have occurred when the savage animal, feeling the effects 

 of the lance, has drawn it forth again with his paw and 

 made his escape. If a female, and accompanied by her 

 young, she will never forsake them, though ever so badly 

 wounded ; but, unmindful of her own safety, will use every 

 exertion for the preservation of her cubs. The female is 

 gravid from six to seven months, and brings forth two. It is a 

 very rare occurrence to see two old bears in company ; they 

 are seen mostly solitary, or the female and her young ones. 

 When looking out for prey they stand erect on their 

 hinder feet, which gives them a more extensive prospect 

 over the ice. They swim with great facility and force, 

 and by this means pass from one field of ice to another. 

 They can make very little resistance when attacked in the 

 water, unless they can lay hold of the boat's gunwale with 

 their paws, to prevent which the sailors often chop them 

 off. 



Monodon Monoceros (the narval, or sea unicorn). — It is 

 mostly in very high latitudes, about the seventy-fifth de- 

 gree and upwards, that this animal is found. Its horn, 

 as it is called, is valuable, being considered excellent 

 ivory. This tooth, properly so called, issues from the 

 fore part of the upper jaw, just above the mouth. There 



