Chap. 54.] BEAES A^J) THEIR CUBS. 307 



aros;'^ in order to relax the bowels, which would otherwise 

 become in a state of constipation ; and they sharpen the edges 

 of their teeth against the young shoots of the trees. Their 

 eye-sight is dull, for which reason in especial, they seek the 

 combs of bees, in order that from the bees stinging them in 

 the throat and drawing blood, the oppression in the head may 

 be relieved. '^ The head of the bear is extremely weak, whereas, 

 in the lion, it is remai^kable for its strength : on which account 

 it is, that when the bear, impelled by any alarm, is about to 

 precipitate itself from a rock, it covers its head with its paws. 

 In the arena of the Circus they are often to be seen killed by 

 a blow on the head with the list. The people of Spain have 

 a belief, that there is some kind of magical poison in the brain 

 of the bear, and therefore burn the heads of those that have 

 been killed in their public games ; for it is averred, that the 

 brain, when mixed with drink, produces in man the rage of 

 the bear.^° These animals walk on two feet, and climb down 

 trees backwards.®^ They can overcome the bull, by suspending 

 themselves, by all four legs, from its muzzle and horns, thus 

 wearing out its powers by their weight. In no other animal 

 is stupidity found more adroit in devising mischief. It is re- 

 corded in our Annals, that on the fourteenth day before the 

 calends of October,^- in the consulship of M. Piso and M. Mes- 

 sala, Domitius Ahenobarbus, the curule sedile, brought into 

 the Circus one hundred Xumidian bears, and as many JEthi- 

 opian hunters. I am surprised to find the word jS'umidian 

 added, seeing that it is well known that there are no bears pro- 

 duced in Africa.^^ 



'8 Pliny enumerates, at considerable lengtb, the varieties of aros, in E. 

 xxiv. c. 92 ; it is also described in B. xix. c. 30 ; it is probably a species 

 of arum.— B. See pp. 299, 300, N. 47. 



''9 This is, of course, without foundation.— B. 



s*^ This supposed noxious quality is entirely without foundation. — B. 



81 This probably refers more particularly to the mode in which the bear 

 descends from trees or poles, in the supine posture, not, as is the case in 

 most other animals, with the bead downwards. — B. 



32 18th September. 



83 It appears, from tbe remarks of Cuvier, to be still doubtful whether 

 the bear be really a native of Africa ; see Ajasson, vol. vi. p. 457 ; Le- 

 maire, vol. iii. p. 466. — 13. 



X 2 



