ZOOLOGY. — 'POLAR BEAR. 519 



He may be captured in the water without much 

 clanger ; but, on the ice, he has such power of resis- 

 tance at command, that the experiment is hazar- 

 dous. When pursued and attacked, he always 

 turns upon his enemies. If struck with a lance, he 

 is apt to seize it in his mouth, and either bite it in 

 two or wrest it out of the hand. If shot with a ball, 

 unless he is struck in the head, in the heart, or in 

 the shoulder, he is enraged rather than depressed, 

 and falls with increased power upon his pursuers. 

 When shot at a distance and able to escape, he has 

 been observed to retire to the shelter of a hummock, 

 and, as if conscious of the styptical effect of cold, ap- 

 ply snow with his paws to the wound. 



Though possessed of courage and great means of 

 defence, he always, unless urged by hunger, retreats 

 before men. His general walk is slow and delibe- 

 rate ; but when impelled by danger or hunger, he 

 proceeds by a galloping step; and, upon ice, can 

 easily outrun any man. 



It feeds on the kreng or carcasses of whales, in the 

 state in which they are relinquished by the fishers ; 

 on seals, birds, foxes and deer, when it can sur- 

 prise them ; on eggs, and, indeed, on any animal 

 substance that comes within its power. 



The skin of the bear, when dressed with the hair 

 on, forms beautiful mats for a hall, or the bottom of 

 a carriage. Prepared without being ripped up, and 

 the hairy side turned inward, it forms a warm sack- 



