ZOOLOGY. 



BY COMMANDER (NOW CAPTAIN) JAMES CLARK ROSS, R.N., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c. 



1.— URSUS MARITIMUS (Polar Bear). 



Ursus Maritimus. — Cuv: Reg. An. — vol. i., p. 137. 

 Rich : Faun. Bur. Amer. — p. 30. 

 Fab : Faun. Grant.— Tp. 22. 



Is found in greater numbers in the neighbourhood of Port Bowen, and Batty Bay, 

 in Prince Regent's Inlet, than in any other part of the Polar Regions that I have 

 visited in the course of the several expeditions of discovery. This circumstance, pro- 

 bably, arises from Lancaster Sound being but seldom covered by permanently fixed 

 ice ; and therefore affording them means of subsistence during the severity of an 

 Arctic winter ; and also from its being most remote from the usual winter residence 

 of any of the Esquimaux, who alone dispute the sovereignty of the north with this 

 monarch of its ferine inhabitants. 



During our stay at Fury Beach many of these animals came about us, and several 

 were killed. At that time we were fortunately in no want of provisions, but some of 

 our party, tempted by the fine appearance of the meat, made a hearty meal off' the first 

 one that was shot. All that partook of it soon after complained of a violent headache, 

 which, with some, continued two or three days, and was followed by the skin pealing oft' 

 the face, hands, and arms ; and in some, who had probably partaken more largely, oft 

 the whole body. 



On a former occasion I witnessed a somewhat similar occurrence, when, on Sir 

 Edward Parry's Polar journey, having lived for several days wholly on two bears that 

 were shot, the skin pealed oft" the feet, legs, and arms of many of the party. It was 



